A zoo in Xianning, Central China tried to pass off a Rottweiler as a wolf. Footage showing by a visitor of Xiangwushan Zoo in Xianning, Hubei province, shows a Rottweiler resting inside went viral on Chinese social media last week.
A Mr. Xu who recorded the video can be heard saying “Woof! Are you a wolf?” to the dog. A zoo employee confirmed to Chinese publication Global Times that there was indeed a dog in the wolf’s enclosure. He added that the animal was only there temporarily.
The Rottweiler was a watchdog used to prevent strangers from trespassing into the yard.
“There indeed was a wolf,” a member of the staff said, adding that it had died of old age. Due to the pandemic, the zoo didn’t have enough visitors to keep the zoo up and running well.
After Mr. Xu’s video went viral online, the local forestry bureau ordered the Xiangwushan Zoo to take down the wolf enclosure sign, so as not to confuse visitors.
Online, reactions to the videos were mixed. Some displayed outrage by the zoo’s tactics. Few others saying that the staff could have at least used a husky, which at least somewhat resembles a wolf.
Source: Oddity Central