An Image of  Malnourished Lion Misleadingly Attributed To  Dehiwala Zoo, Sri Lanka

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People frequently discuss zoos and animals, yet there are ongoing criticisms regarding the welfare of animals in captivity. Concerns range from inadequate living conditions to the ethical implications of confining wild animals for public entertainment and education. Compounding these issues, some social media posts spread misleading information, either downplaying legitimate welfare concerns or exaggerating them, thus creating a complex and often contentious dialogue around the role and impact of zoos in modern society.

Social Media Posts

An image of a physically weak lion, purportedly from Dehiwala Zoo in Sri Lanka, is circulating on social media, suggesting the animal is not treated well and calling for a boycott of the zoo.

FB | Archived

Users commented on it like below.

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Image Origin:

A reverse image search traced the photo of the malnourished lion back to 2018.

The image was reported by the Daily Mail, a UK-based news outlet, showing a malnourished lion in Safari Park Zoo, Fier, southwest Albania.

Conditions at Safari Park Zoo, Albania:

The Daily Mail article highlights the dire conditions at the privately-owned Safari Park Zoo in Albania.

Pictures show a severely malnourished lion with an untreated eye injury, along with other animals like a thin-looking wolf and several deer in desolate concrete cages.More details can be read here. Archived

Dehiwala Zoo's Response:

Upon contacting Dehiwala Zoo, authorities confirmed that the lion in the image does not belong to their zoo.

Dehiwala Zoo currently houses four lions, two of which are cubs, and none are reported to have any health issues.

Although Dehiwala Zoo has faced issues regarding animal safety and conditions in the past, this particular incident is not connected to them.

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Conclusion

The image of the malnourished lion being circulated on social media is not from Dehiwala Zoo in Sri Lanka but from Safari Park Zoo in Albania, dating back to 2018. Misleading information such as this can unjustly damage the reputation of institutions and divert attention from actual issues that need addressing. It is crucial to verify the origins of images and claims before spreading them on social media.