Mahmoud Sarhan discovered an unusual hoax at a zoo in Cairo: an alleged zebra that was actually a painted donkey. The 18-year-old student posted a photo in July 2018 of an animal on display as a zebra at the International Garden Park Zoo in Cairo: to him, it was a painted donkey.
The pointed ears and black spots on the face raised suspicions. Veterinarians also pointed out differences in the muzzle and the regularity of the stripes. Mohamed Sultan, the head of the city’s specialized parks, initially denied the accusation.
Later, Sultan acknowledged that zoo employees had painted the donkeys to make them look like zebras, although he insisted it was an activity to entertain children and not an attempt to pass them off as zebras. The case was referred to the prosecutor’s office, and the authorities confirmed that they were painted donkeys, while the investigation continued to determine who had ordered or carried out the deception.