Does a viral screenshot deliver a real extract from Michael Wolff's book about U.S. President Donald Trump demanding a "gorilla channel" in the White House? No, that's not true: It's an old joke that first emerged in January 2018 as a response to the revelations in Michael Wolff's 'Fire and Fury.' Lead Stories confirmed that the book contains no mention…
Is that viral video of an adult gorilla beating up a crocodile authentic footage of the adult protecting a juvenile gorilla? No, that's not true: Sseveral visual artifacts that are evidence of common shortcomings of video concocted by generative AI. Among them, a white halo around the gorilla's outline, unnatural stiffness of the crocodile, and a fight in mud that…
Did protesters in France release animals from the zoo after police shot a teen, causing the animals to roam the streets? No, that's not true: Social media posts making this claim are showing old video clips of various animals running loose in different communities at different times. Additionally, the Paris Zoological Park has confirmed that all of its animals are…
Does this photo show a human baby dubbed "The blackest South African baby in the world" or "the World's Tiniest, Darkest, and Most Resilient Baby"? No, that's not true: This photo doesn't show a human baby but a handcrafted doll by sculptor Lilah Pearson. It's a one-of-a-kind "Baby Gorilla Monkey" made of polymer clay. Photos of Pearson's creation have circulated…
Do animals aside from humans have Down syndrome? No, that's not true: Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by a duplication of human chromosome 21, which is only found in humans, an expert told Lead Stories. Some animals, such as apes, may also have duplications of chromosomes specific to their species that may cause symptoms similar to those characterized…
Do gorillas, sharks and wolves avoid illnesses because they do not eat chemically treated food like humans do? No, that's not true: Gorillas and wolves, both mammals, do get sick and can contract infections and diseases, wildlife experts told Lead Stories. Scientific studies and animal conservation groups have reported the same about the oft-repeated claim sharks never sicken. The claim…
An Oranugtang at a Tennesee zoo did not give birth to a human baby, contrary to reports circulating on the internet. Lucy, a 200 pound orangutang supposedly gave birth to a human baby girl. Although the story was filed from Nashville, it does not mention the actual name of the zoo or who the 'father' is. The story claims the…
Fake news site CelebTriCity is claiming a human-gorilla hybrid baby was born in Egypt. This was supposedly announced by the "Egyptian University of Science". For some reason 'Indians' are also involved with the story: Indians are calling him "Hurilla" At just seven weeks of age, 'Hurilla' weighs approximately 18.2 pounds and is 24 inches long; They expect him to grow…
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