Chinese Aquarium Faces Backlash Over Robotic Whale Shark Exhibit

Visitors at Xiaomeisha Sea World were outraged to find the much-anticipated whale shark was actually a robot, not a real creature.

Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen reopened on October 1 after five years of renovations, attracting 100,000 visitors eager to see its star exhibit.
The aquarium's whale shark turned out to be a robotic replica, leading to widespread disappointment and demands for refunds.
Visitors expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, criticizing the aquarium for misleading marketing and the artificial nature of the exhibit.
The aquarium defended its decision, stating the robotic shark was created to comply with Chinese wildlife protection laws banning the trade of real whale sharks.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of controversial animal exhibits in China, including zoos using painted dogs to mimic pandas.