‘The Owner Did It Just for Fun,’ Says Staff Member After Chinese Zoo Paints Donkeys to Look Like Zebras

A Chinese zoo admitted to painting donkeys to look like zebras as a "fun" marketing stunt, sparking criticism from visitors and animal rights activists over the unethical treatment of the animals.

A zoo in China has sparked outrage after allegedly painting donkeys with black and white stripes in an attempt to pass them off as zebras.cThe Zibo City amusement park in Shandong province came under scrutiny when visitors and internet users noticed the unusual-looking “zebras” in early February, according to China’s state-run Global Times.

Photos circulating online show a zoo worker standing beside a donkey with nearly perfect black and white stripes running across its body. Following public criticism, park representatives admitted to the deception, calling it a marketing strategy.

Check Out the Viral Video

“The owner did it just for fun,” a staff member told Global Times. However, social media users were not amused. Many condemned the zoo for its “misleading and unethical” treatment of animals just to increase attendance, Metro reported.

Users Reaction to this 

“It’s unfair to the animals and the visitors,” one critic wrote on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Some internet users speculated that employees used duct tape to create the striped pattern, while others suspected dye. The zoo later confirmed that dye was used but insisted it was non-toxic.

Despite the explanation, the criticism continued. “They did a pretty bad job too,” one person commented on Facebook. “They should take the animals off them,” another joked. A third user said, "The Chinese really do FAKE everything lol my lord." Animal rights activists expressed concerns that the process may have caused unnecessary stress and potential health risks for the donkeys.

Not the First Fake Animal Scandal

The Zibo City amusement park is not the first zoo to attempt such a stunt. Reports suggest the park copied the idea from another Chinese zoo that painted dogs to resemble pandas. Visitors at the Shanwei Zoo quickly realized the deception when one of the supposed pandas started panting and barking, according to local media. At first, the zoo denied the accusations but eventually admitted to the ruse.

Similar incidents have occurred in other parts of the world. In 2018, a zoo in Cairo, Egypt, was accused of painting zebra stripes onto donkeys after visitors noticed the animals' faces and ears didn’t match real zebras. The zoo’s director, Mohamed Sultan, denied the claims, insisting the animals were well cared for. Animal welfare groups, however, have strongly condemned such practices.