The panda dogs are not the first time a fake animal controversy happened at a zoo in China. In July, the Hangzhou Zoo in Zhejiang faced rumors that some of its bears were human imposters.

In 2023, Hangzhou Zoo, in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, had to issue a statement insisting its sun bears were not humans in costume.

There’s a leopard on the loose in Hangzhou – and it’s understandably ... Hong Kong that you didn’t realise were endangered The zoo later released pictures purporting to show a recaptured ...