Aquarium visitors in China were left feeling deceived after discovering that a highly publicised giant whale shark on display was actually a robot. The Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen recently reopened its doors following a five-year closure for renovations, featuring the robotic star attraction.
During a week-long trial run, the sea park spanning 60,000 square metres drew in approximately 100,000 visitors, each paying £30 for entry. However, the grand shark gracefully swimming in the large tank was revealed to be an artificial replica, much to the disappointment of the visitors.
Some outraged guests demanded refunds, while others took to social media to express their frustration towards the marine park. One visitor mentioned to the New York Post, “The venue is not large enough and even the whale shark is artificial.” Complaints escalated to the point where refunds were being requested as early as 3pm on the same day.
Xiaomeisha Sea World defended its decision to showcase the robotic shark, citing Chinese laws prohibiting the trade of real whale sharks. China had implemented a ban in 2019 on shark finning and the deliberate catching of sharks in open waters, prompting the sea park to opt for the robotic alternative to comply with regulations.
Despite the park’s intentions to promote animal welfare, critics were unimpressed. A Chinese social media user stated, “Even though it’s for the sake of animal protection, I’d rather they didn’t have one at all than show a fake one.” A company in Shenyang had developed the world’s first intelligent robotic whale shark, capable of various lifelike movements and behaviours.
This bionic shark, weighing 350kg and measuring nearly five metres long, could swim, float, dive, and even open and close its mouth. Controlled remotely, the robot featured programmable swimming patterns and advanced bionic propulsion capabilities. Reports indicated that the robot shark could reach speeds of up to 0.7 metres per second and dive to depths of 20 metres.
Notably, instances of deceptive animal displays have surfaced in Chinese zoos previously, such as painting dogs to resemble pandas. Visitors at a zoo in Guangdong province were astonished to discover that the “pandas” were dogs when they began panting and barking. In another peculiar case, a zoo in Jiangsu province showcased “panda dogs” as part of a new exhibit, charging visitors £2.22 per entry.
The uproar over the robotic whale shark at Xiaomeisha Sea World stands as a reminder for establishments to maintain transparency and authenticity in their attractions, to uphold visitor trust and uphold ethical standards in animal welfare practices.