Xiaomeisha Ocean World in China is under scrutiny after it was revealed that the whale shark featured in its exhibits is actually a robotic model, not a live animal. The revelation has sparked a wave of negative reviews from visitors who felt deceived by the aquarium’s advertising, with some demanding refunds after learning that the whale shark was not real.
The aquarium defended its choice, explaining that it invested millions of yuan in the development of the robotic whale shark to comply with wildlife protection laws that restrict the trade and capture of real whale sharks, the world’s largest fish species. Only around 20 whale sharks are kept in captivity worldwide, making them a rare sight in aquariums.
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Xiaomeisha Ocean World said in a statement that its robotic whale shark exhibit aimed to “inspire everyone to understand the animals and their environment” and “with the aim of protecting the ecological environment.”
This incident follows another Chinese wildlife display accused of misleading tourists. Earlier this year, the Taizhou Zoo sparked a viral controversy when it was revealed staff had dyed a pair of chow chow dogs black and white to look like pandas.
[Jack Aylmer]
WHALE SHARKS ARE THE LARGEST FISH SPECIES ON THE PLANET.
SO IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE THAT ONLY ABOUT 20 ARE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY GLOBALLY.
MEANING THERE’S JUST A HANDFUL OF PLACES YOU CAN GO TO SEE THEM.
XIAMEISHA OCEAN WORLD IN CHINA ISN’T ONE OF THEM.
DESPITE WHAT THE AQUARIUM MAY HAVE LED VISITORS TO BELIEVE.
THE WHALE SHARK ADVERTISED BY THE VENUE TURNED OUT TO BE A ROBOTIC MODEL INSTEAD.
NEGATIVE REVIEWS HAVE BEEN FLOODING THE AQUARIUM’S WEB PAGE FROM ANGRY TOURISTS WHO FELT MISLEAD BY THE ATTRACTION’S ADVERTISING
SOME PEOPLE EVEN REPORTEDLY BEGAN DEMANDING THEIR MONEY BACK AFTER FINDING OUT THE FISH WAS FAKE.
HOWEVER, REPRESENTATIVES FROM XIAMEISHA OCEAN WORLD DEFENDED THEIR DECISION.
SAYING THEY SPENT MILLIONS OF YUAN ON THE ROBOT-
WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN ADHERENCE TO WILDLIFE PROTECTION LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THE TRADE AND CAPTURE OF REAL WHALE SHARKS.
IT’S NOT THE ONLY CHINESE WILDLIFE EXHIBIT TO BE ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO FOOL VISITORS AS OF LATE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR – THE TAIZHOU ZOO WENT VIRAL FOR DYEING A PAIR OF CHOW CHOW DOGS BLACK AND WHITE TO RESEMBLE PANDAS.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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