A theme park in China has become the latest target of online ridicule after visitors discovered that a “zebra” on display was actually a donkey painted with black-and-white stripes.
The unusual attraction was spotted at the Qingyun Mountain Folk Amusement Park in Shandong province, where videos of the striped donkey quickly went viral across Chinese social media platforms.
Footage circulating online showed the animal standing behind a fence with zebra-like markings painted across its body. While it resembled a zebra from a distance, many viewers quickly noticed its unmistakably donkey-like appearance.
The incident sparked a wave of jokes and memes online, with some users dubbing the animal a “zebronkey” or a previously unknown species.
One commenter joked: “This is the first time I’ve seen a zebra that looks so much like a donkey.”
Another wrote: “A brand-new species has been discovered.”
Responding to the backlash, staff at the amusement park insisted the display was never intended to deceive visitors.
According to a park employee, the painted donkey was part of a humorous “cosplay” concept designed to entertain guests.
“It’s just a joke, similar to cosplay. We never put up any sign claiming it was a zebra,” the employee reportedly said.
“We were simply creating something funny and unusual for visitors.”
The park added that it houses more than 40 animal species and that only one donkey and several dogs had been given costume-style makeovers as part of the attraction.
The incident has reignited discussions about unconventional animal displays in China.
In recent years, several zoos and parks have faced criticism after dyeing dogs to resemble pandas or using costumed performers to portray animals, generating widespread debate on social media.
Despite the controversy, many online users appeared amused rather than angry.
“Look how wronged that donkey looks,” one commenter joked.
Another wrote: “New species are appearing everywhere these days.”
The viral donkey continues to attract attention online, with many netizens describing it as one of the most bizarre animal-themed attractions seen in recent months.
