China’s Xiaomeisha Sea World has gathered public attention for showcasing a life-sized robotic whale shark instead of a real one.

The reopened aquarium, charging high entry fee of 230 yuan (Rs8,845), has left curiosity-driven crowds perplexed and outraged, reported South China Morning post.

The life-sized automated whale shark can be seen sailing and drifting in the waters of Xiaomeisha Sea World in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in  viral social media videos.

However, upon finding out the truth about whale shark, few visitors expressed their disappointment and asked for compensation from the Dazhong Dianping, the restaurant and associated service run by Meituan on the aquarium’s page, as per SCMP.

“I cannot believe the whale shark is fake. It’s outrageous to charge over 200 yuan for a ticket,” said a visitor.

Besides, another visitor also warned to report the place and have it shut down when they found the whale shark to be fake, reported NDTV.

On the other hand, some people appreciated the environment and praised the arrangements as well.

“It’s a wonderful alternative to showcase large marine creatures without imprisoning them in a tank. Rather than obscuring the whale shark’s true identity from visitors, the aquarium should embrace this opportunity to educate the public on the importance of animal protection,” added a self-styled cyberpunk enthusiast on Xiaohongshu.