Robot Technology News
FLORA AND FAUNA
China aquarium's 'fake' whale shark flops with angry visitors
China aquarium's 'fake' whale shark flops with angry visitors
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Oct 16, 2024

Visitors to a new aquarium in China were left furious this week after discovering one of its top aquatic stars was a robot, despite it being marketed as such.

Xiaomeisha Ocean World in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, opened on October 1 but was quickly slammed for its high prices, long queues, and poor conditions for its marine life.

Much of the criticism, however, centred on the park's star attraction: a "mechanised whale shark".

Photos of the shark showed joints in the body where parts of the robot had been joined together.

On the online review platform Dazhong Dianping, users flooded the aquarium's page with negative comments.

"I'm speechless about the fake whale shark. I really want to report and ban this place," one visitor wrote.

"Why are they using fake props as fish?" read another review.

"Are they trying to trick children?"

The park, which charges around 240 yuan ($34) for adult tickets, has a rating of just 2.9 out of 5 stars on the popular review platform.

Many social media users posted under the hashtag "Netizens complain about spending hundreds of yuan at Xiaomeisha Sea World to see fake fish".

In response, the park said that whale sharks are not allowed to be traded and keeping a real one in captivity would be cruel, while the robot was meant to raise awareness for protecting the species, local media reported.

Inside the park, a sign introducing the robot shark read that it intended to "inspire everyone to understand the animals and their environment" and "with the aim of protecting the ecological environment".

Local media reported over 100,000 people visited the park during a seven-day national holiday in the first week of October.

This is not the first time an animal park in China has drawn attention for using fakes.

In May, Taizhou Zoo in coastal Jiangsu province went viral after it dyed two Chow Chow dogs black and white to make them resemble pandas.

A zoo in Shanwei, Guangdong, admitted to the same stunt last month.

And last year, Hangzhou Zoo in east China's Zhejiang province was forced to deny that a sun bear was a human in a costume after a video of the bear standing on its hind legs aroused suspicion online.

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Can biodiversity credits unlock billions for nature?
Paris (AFP) Oct 15, 2024
For supporters, biodiversity credits could unlock billions in much-needed funding for nature, but critics fear a repeat of scandals that have dogged other financial approaches to protecting the environment. Paying to safeguard tropical rainforests or compensate for habitat destruction is an area of growing interest, and trading credits in conservation will feature at this month's UN COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia. The market in biodiversity credits or certificates - which monetise activi ... read more

FLORA AND FAUNA
Northrop Grumman highlights MQ-4C Triton navigation test over Arctic Ocean

Iran unveils new drone, missile amid rising tensions

Pro-Iran groups in Iraq claim drone attack against Israel: statement

Airbus Assigns GMV to Develop Navigation System for SIRTAP UAS

FLORA AND FAUNA
Advanced Vehicle Classification Model launched for SAR imagery by SATIM

New molecules switch reversibly using light and heat

Fake AI history photos cloud the past

Ancient 3D paper art could help shape modern wireless tech

FLORA AND FAUNA
Taiwan's TSMC posts sharp rise in third quarter net profit

ASML shares dive after disappointing Q3 bookings

MIT team takes a major step toward fully 3D-printed active electronics

Engineering technique advances lasers and LEDs with atomic-level control of perovskite materials

FLORA AND FAUNA
Framatome to provide long-term fuel supply for Trillo nuclear plant

Google signs nuclear power deal with startup Kairos

Amazon bets on nuclear power to fuel AI ambitions

Researchers synthesize new plutonium isotope for the first time

FLORA AND FAUNA
Colombia boosts security for biodiversity meet after rebel threats

US pledges new funds at anti-IS coalition gathering

Anti-jihadist coalition mission in Iraq ending in 2025

French IS suspect to be tried over enslavement of Yazidi teenager

FLORA AND FAUNA
The changing geography of "energy poverty"

Little progress at key meet ahead of COP29 climate summit

'Age of Electricity' coming as fossil fuels set to peak: IEA

Climate pact needs 'hundreds of billions' in state money: COP29 hosts

FLORA AND FAUNA
Lab data confirm potential of geothermal's holy grail: superdeep, superhot rock as important renewable energy source

Seeking new energy solutions from the sea in wave power biofuel and beyond

Efficient Nanobubble Production Method Explored by UCalgary Researchers

Fire breaks out at Chinese battery giant CATL plant

FLORA AND FAUNA
Xi emphasizes China's drive to lead in space exploration

China launches Yaogan 43B remote-sensing satellites from Xichang

Shenzhou-18 Crew Tests Fire Alarms and Conducts Medical Procedures in Space

Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.