Internet Hoaxes: Bulls

Claim: Tourist's last photo is a close-up of an enormous charging bull.

Status: False.

Photo is genuine, but was taken by a professional photographer with a remote control camera, at the 2002 San Fermin Festival in Pamploma, Spain.

Source: Snopes

See the Pet Blog's other entries on animal related internet hoaxes.

Internet Hoaxes: Crabs

Claim: Photographs show Christmas Island robber crab or coconut crab.

Originated in 2007 with text identifying it as a Christmas Island crab.

Circulated in 2009 with description as coconut crab.

Status: Partly true : The origins and authenticity of the photographs have not been verified, but there really are coconut crabs which can reach a leg span of 3.3 ft, a body length of 1.3 ft and weigh up to 38 pounds.

Reference: Snopes

See the Pet Blog's other entries on animal related internet hoaxes.

Don't believe everything you see

Zhou Zhenglong, a 54-year-old farmer from a mountainous county in northern Shaanxi province, was awarded a 20,000 yuan bonus last year, after he produced pictures which authorities said were evidence of a South China tiger.

The pictures, which showed a tiger crouching in a forest setting, sparked an Internet furor led by experts who identified the photos as faked, and local media who accused officials of endorsing them as a means of promoting tourism in a poor region.

After months of dithering, authorities finally admitted the pictures were fake and sacked a swag of officials for their part in the scandal.

China has been rocked by a number of scandals involving official endorsement of faked photos.

In February, the chief editor of a Chinese newspaper quit after one of its photographers faked a prize-winning photo of endangered Tibetan antelopes appearing unfazed by a passing train on the Qinghai-Tibet railway.

Source: Reuters

Internet Hoaxes: Penguins, Part Four

Claim: Many versions same premise - A child smuggles a penguin out of an amusement park.


Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Photo from Flickr, by littlepants

Internet Hoaxes: Penguins, Part Three

Claim: Penguins fall over onto their backs while trying to observe airplanes flying overhead.


Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Photo from Flickr, by mostlysunny1

Internet Hoaxes: Penguins, Part Two

Claim: Flying penguins found by BBC program.


These penguins not only take flight from the Antarctic wastes, but fly thousands of miles to the Amazonian rain forest to find winter sun.

Status: False.

Source: Telegraph

(via Penguins!)

Internet Hoaxes: Penguins, Part One

Claim: You can buy a [living] penguin on-line from penguinwarehouse.com.


Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Photo from Flickr, by Mollivan Jon

Internet Hoaxes: Cats, Part Five

Claim: A Japanese man in New York breeds and sells kittens that are called bonsai kittens.


Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Source: Wikipedia

Internet Hoaxes: Cats, Part Four

Claim: Photograph shows an enormous 89 lb., 69-inch mutant cat raised by a Canadian man.


Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Cats, Part Three

Claim: Homeowners discover a furtively flushing feline is the source of their huge water bills.



Status: Real video; inaccurate description.

Source: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Cats, Part Two

Claim: Photograph shows a cat jumping out of a raft.


Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Cats, Part One

Claim: Photographs show a variety of "painted cats."





Status: False.

Source: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part Seven

Claim: Photograph shows a 115-pound coyote killed in New York.

Status: Real picture; inaccurate description.

Reference: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part Six

Claim: Thousands of Japanese pet owners were victimized by swindlers who sold them sheep and told them the animals were poodles.

Status: False.

Reference: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part Five

Claim: Photograph shows fireman receiving kiss of gratitude from a Doberman he had just rescued from a house fire.

Status: Real picture; inaccurate description.

Reference: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part Four

Claim: Photograph shows a fox amidst a group of dogs.

Status: False.

Reference: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part Three

Claim: Photograph shows Brutus, a canine Medal of Honor recipient.

Status: False.

Reference: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part Two

Claim: A sanctuary for dogs is maintained on a "dog island" off the coast of Florida.

Status: False.

Reference: Snopes

Internet Hoaxes: Dogs, Part One

Claim: Photograph shows Hercules, the world's biggest dog.

Status: False.

Reference: Snopes