KUALA LUMPUR: Two dogs with panda-like coats have sparked curiosity among netizens after a video of a special enclosure at a zoo in China went viral online on May 1.
Online videos of the pair, dubbed "panda dogs" by social media users, have been captivating visitors at Taizhou Zoo. Some people were convinced the dogs were genuine pandas, while others questioned the breed of the dogs.
According to a report, the "panda dogs" are a breed of dog called "chow chow" that have been groomed and dyed to look like giant pandas.
The Straits Times reported that these "panda dogs" were a big hit with visitors were growing in popularity.
"After entering the zoo, I heard many people asking where the panda was. I just followed the crowd. I only realised they were actually dogs and not pandas after reaching the enclosure," said one of the visitors there.
China news outlet Jiangsu News interviewed a zoo worker, who said the dogs were groomed to resemble pandas to attract more visitors and make the zoo experience more fun.
He said the zoo had not brought in real pandas because the premises were too cramped.
Taizhou Zoo added that dog's fur was similar to human hair and could be dyed without causing harm.
A notice displayed at the Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu province informs visitors that the "panda dogs" were not a distinct breed of dogs.