The New York Zoo hoax
The New York Zoo hoax was a false story. The New York Herald printed an untrue story about a fictional breakout of animals from the Central Park Zoo on November 9, 1874. It is also known as The Central Park Zoo Escape and the Central Park Menagerie Scare of 1874
The article warned that dangerous animals were loose in the city. The article said that 49 people died and 200 were injured. Many readers panicked, even though the end of the story said that everything in it was not true. The authors later said they wanted to make people pay attention to weak safety precautions at the zoo. They said they were surprised at the strong reaction to their story.
The New York Zoo Hoax Media
The Temperate Zone, one of the three major exhibit areas at Central Park Zoo
Looking east at Children's Zoo gates after snowfall.
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Sea lion pool, as seen looking south toward Midtown Manhattan
Looking north at Childrens Zoo on a cloudy afternoon.
Headline for New York Herald story
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References
- Thomas Connery, "A Famous Newspaper Hoax." Harper's Weekly (June 3, 1893)
- Fred Fedler, Media Hoaxes. Iowa State University Press, 1989 ISBN 0813811171
- Alex Boese, "The Central Park Zoo Escape." Museum of Hoaxes