A Chinese aquarium in Shenzhen, Xiaomeisha Sea World, has sparked outrage after unveiling a mechanical whale shark as its star attraction, reported the New York Post.
Reopened on October 1 after five years of renovations, the park drew approximately 100,000 visitors during its week-long trial period.
However, many were disappointed to discover that the much-anticipated whale shark was, in fact, a robot.
Photos shared by visitors show visible gaps in the mechanical shark’s body, leading many to criticise the aquarium for creating unrealistic expectations. Angry guests took to social media, calling the robot “uninteresting” and voicing their frustrations over the high entry fee of around $40.
Earlier, Chinese zoos have been accused of misleading people by swapping or modifying animals. The recent case came into the limelight when a zoo in China painted dogs to resemble pandas.
Xiaomeisha Sea World defended the decision, explaining that the robotic whale shark adheres to laws prohibiting the trade of live whale sharks. However, this did little to appease disgruntled visitors, with one stating, “I’d rather they didn’t have one at all than show a fake one.”
Complaints were also made regarding the live exhibits, with some guests pointing out the poor health of the fish, claiming some displayed signs of white spot disease.