Putin has not unleashed lions on Russian streets to
enforce Corona lockdown
A post is going viral
claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin has released 800 tigers and
lions across the country's streets to force people inside.
This picture is from Johannesburg in South Africa from
2016
Corona lockdown |
Many countries are enforcing a lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has already claimed more than 13,000 people and infected over 3 lakh globally. Social media is full of measures taken by respective governments to fight the menace.
Amid this, a post is going
viral claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin has released 800 tigers
and lions across the country's streets to force people inside. Facebook page
"Humour TV" posted a picture of a lion on an empty street with the
caption, "Vladimir Putin has dropped 800 Tigers and lions all over the
country to push people to stay home."
Till the filing of this
story, the post was already shared more than 18,000 times. The post is viral on
Twitter as well.
India Today Anti Fake News
War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be false. This picture is from
Johannesburg in South Africa from 2016.
With the help of Google
reverse image search, we found a report by "Daily Mail" published on
April 15, 2016. According to this report, the lion, called Columbus, was
brought for filming by a production crew in Johannesburg.
However, another report by
"New York Post," says the filming was not approved. This report quotes
the Johannesburg Roads Agency as saying, "The filming had not been
approved and the film company took a risk by springing the lion without getting
the OK to close several roads."
The same picture is also
viral on WhatsApp with a similar claim. There is a TV 'Breaking News' graphic
plate imposed on the picture which says, "Russia unleashed more than 500
lions on its streets to ensure that people are staying indoors during this
pandemic outbreak."
AFWA has found that the
graphic plate does not belong to any news channel. It has been created by using
a website where you can develop your own "breaking news".
Therefore, it is clear that
the picture of the lion roaming on the streets has nothing to do with Russia or
Putin. This picture is from Johannesburg in South Africa from 2016 during a
film shoot.
LINK
LINKIn the quest to prevent further spread of Coronavirus, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin has released 500 Lions on the street to force people to stay home. pic.twitter.com/87gAAvpqEF— Famiyesin Mike (@MikeFamiyesin) March 22, 2020
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