Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen is under fire for displaying a robotic whale shark instead of a live one, sparking debates on animal welfare and consumer rights. The aquarium, which reopened in October, charges 230 yuan for admission, leading to visitor complaints about feeling deceived.
While some visitors were impressed by the innovation, others demanded refunds, expressing their dissatisfaction on Dazhong Dianping. One commenter stated, "It's outrageous to charge over 200 yuan for a ticket to see a fake whale shark." Another threatened to report the aquarium for its use of a robotic exhibit.
However, some visitors supported the aquarium's approach, with one cyberpunk enthusiast on Xiaohongshu praising the alternative to confining large marine creatures and suggesting the aquarium use the opportunity to educate on animal protection.
This is not the first time a Chinese aquarium has used a robotic whale shark; Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park introduced a similar robot in 2022. These robotic sharks, costing millions of yuan, are more cost-effective than maintaining live specimens, which can cost over 100 million yuan to care for.
Whale sharks, the world's largest fish, can live 80 to 130 years in the wild but often survive less than five years in captivity. Limited space in aquariums is insufficient for their needs, despite optimal water quality and temperature control.
Capturing whale sharks is prohibited in China, as they are a national second-class protected species. Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's spokesperson emphasized that presenting robotic whale sharks serves to protect marine life and promote ocean education.
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