China used a fake robot shark in an aquarium, sparking anger among zoo visitors.

Holidaymakers were dismayed to find the animatronic whale shark at the newly opened Xiaomeisha Ocean World in Shenzhen, Guangdong.

The park, which had just opened on October 1, faced backlash for high ticket prices - around 240 yuan (approximately 25.91 GBP) for adults - along with long queues and poor conditions for marine life.

These issues led to a low rating of just 2.9 out of 5 stars on a popular review platform.

In a local interview, a park manager said: 'Whale sharks are not allowed to be traded, and keeping a real one in captivity would be cruel. The robot was intended to raise awareness about protecting the species.'

Local media reported a sign stating that the exhibit aimed to 'inspire everyone to understand the animals and their environment' and to 'protect the ecological environment'.

Despite the controversy, more than 100,000 visitors were reported to have attended the park during the seven-day national holiday in the first week of October.

In the same month, a zoo in Zibo, Shandong, attracted attention for disguising dogs as pandas.

The zoo claimed it had not misled the public, as it never stated the animals were real pandas, clarifying that they were 'panda dogs'.

However, when questioned by local media, they admitted to dyeing two Chow Chows, a spitz breed from northern China known for their thick coats.