The illusion was shattered when the "lion"—really a Tibetan mastiff—began barking, according to news reports.

The park has temporarily shut its doors after it was discovered that other animals throughout the park were also reportedly mislabeled—another dog took up residence in the wolf enclosure, while a white fox posed as a leopard.

Since being discovered, the switch has garnered worldwide attention and has most people scratching their heads. How could a person be fooled by an extra-fuzzy canine?

National Geographic asked Martha Feltenstein, president of the American Tibetan Mastiff Association and an expert on the breed, a few questions about the fraudulent mastiff.

They are a large guardian breed traditionally bred in Tibet. They are considered to be the origin of