This aquarium's star 'whale shark' turns out to be a robot, leaving visitors outraged
China has faced accusations in the past for showcasing fake animals in zoos¡ªlike dogs painted to resemble pandas or wolves posing as exotic cats. Now, a similar controversy has emerged, this time at a Chinese aquarium. The attraction, which had generated buzz around its "giant shark" display, faced a wave of outrage when visitors discovered that the star attraction was, in fact, a robot.
The incident unfolded at Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen, which reopened on October 1 after a five-year renovation. The much-anticipated debut had visitors flocking to see the park¡¯s highlight: a massive whale shark, known as the world¡¯s largest fish, reaching lengths of over 60 feet.
However, excitement quickly turned to disappointment as guests realised the impressive sea creature was nothing more than a robotic replica.?
Photos snapped through the aquarium glass showed the mechanical shark, with noticeable gaps in its torso where the segments joined together, resembling something out of a low-budget sci-fi film.
Amid the backlash, representatives from Xiaomeisha Sea World responded, explaining that the multi-million yuan robotic shark was created to comply with wildlife protection laws, which prohibit the capture and trade of real whale sharks. The aquarium assured the public that it was never intended to deceive them.
This isn't China's first brush with animal-related controversies. Just last month, visitors at the Shanwei Zoo were stunned to find that the 'pandas' on display were actually dogs, painted to look like the iconic bears, with one of the 'pandas' even seen panting and barking.
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