Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic is on a rise across the globe, numerous misinformation about COVID-19 is also spreading like wildfire. Social media platforms have become a breeding hub for fake news. In recent, many posts claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin has released 800 lions and tigers across Russia to stop people from coming out from homes have been going viral on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other platforms. Coronavirus Outbreak: Russia Registers First COVID-19 Death After Elderly Woman Dies In Moscow.

A post on Twitter said: "RUSSIA: #VladimirPutin has Dropped 800 tigers and Lions all over the Country to push people to stay Home. Stay Safe Everyone!! There have been 306 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and one death." Did WHO, Health Ministry Officials Discuss Imposing 'Complete Lockdown' in India? Here's a Fact Check as Audio Clip Goes Viral on WhatsApp.

Twitter Post:

"Vladimir Putin has given Russians two options. You stay at home for 2 weeks or you go to jail for 5 years. No middle ground. RUSSIA Vladimir Putin has Dropped 800 tigers and Lions all over the Country to push people to stay Home. Stay Safe Everyone!" another user tweeted.

Twitter Post:

The claim, however, turned out to be fake. The LatestLY Fact Check team found that that the picture going viral was taken in 2016 and was also posted by Daily Mail.

A post titled "Paws at the traffic lights! Giant male lion is seen prowling around the streets of South Africa's biggest city (but it's not as dangerous as you'd think)" was posted on April 15, 2016.

Hence, the claims that Russian President released lions and tigers in the streets is completely FALSE as the picture going viral is from 2016 from South Africa.

Fact check

Fact Check: News of Russian President Vladimir Putin Released 800 Lions and Tigers in Streets Shared on Social Media is FAKE
Claim :

Posts claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin has released 800 lions and tigers across Russia to stop people from coming out have been going viral on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other platforms.

Conclusion :

The claims that Russian President released lions and tigers in the streets is completely FALSE as the picture going viral is from 2016.

Full of Trash
Clean

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 22, 2020 06:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).