Oregon Zoo elephant photo goes viral, but is it real?
PORTLAND, Ore. – A photo of an Oregon Zoo elephant hanging out in the sea lion exhibit has been making the viral rounds on Facebook in Portland this week. It’s an adorable photo that has prompted thousands of “likes” and “shares.”
But being the skeptical journalists we are, many of us here in the KATU newsroom wondered if the photo was real, so we called up the Oregon Zoo.
It turns out the photo is indeed real, although it was taken back in 2007.
Zoo spokesman Hova Najarian explained how they’ve noticed the photo has been making the rounds, even though it was taken about five years ago.
At that time, Najarian explained, zookeepers regularly led female elephants like Chendra (pictured) on walks around the zoo grounds before it opened to the public.
“Meetings like the one with Gus the sea lion were not infrequent,” he explained.
So yes, the photo is real. But don’t expect the zoo’s newest elephant Lily to take any similar walks. Najarian said the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has since updated its policies and walks like this are no longer allowed.
I grew up in New England, and when I skipped school around the age of 12, now over 30 yrs ago, my friend and I hung out one day at the local zoo, and the zoo keeper asked us to come into the cage with the elephant and we gave her morning bath to her, and also fed the sea lions. Although it was amazing I know for sure that would not be happening now a days.Â
"But being the skeptical journalists we are"
When I stop laughing I will get back to them on this!
So will the Zoo be asking for donations to pay for the $400,000 loss?
too bad about the stupid policies.
I heard they changed the rules about animals walking around the zoo when the monkeys started carrying around assault rifles.
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Oh wait...different story...nevermind!
I bet the leopards would really like to visit the monkeys..
That's sad, that they can no longer takes walks around the zoo. I get so sick of rules, sometimes.
Beautiful, the circle of life.
That's neat picture even it was taken five years ago. They should go for walk-about to see another wild animals in the Oregon  Zoo but it's too bad it had stopped now.
That is a shame that the animals aren't allowed on a walk-about like this, I think it is probably good for certain animals in captivity. It sure is an adorable pic though!Â
I don't think the sea lion was her favorite. Â I want to see the shots of her with the Bonobos.
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Katu? What about this photo made you think it wasn't real? I usually can tell fake ones from the real ones...something about the fine line that separate the objects in the photo. I couldn't find anything like that here :) Just wondering why you thought that.
 @fracas Exactly! And why post the headline, "is it real?" when they already knew it was? Sensationalist "journalism" trying to drive traffic.
@fracas You can just tell, right? Gimme a break.
She should be able to visit the other animals too...not fair!!
Nice to let the animals get out.
Ve vill not tolerate ze fraternization of ze species! Zis is verboden!
@Icarus verboten
Cute, she looks like she's smiling. Too bad their walks had to stop, they don't get much variety stuck in one spot all the time.
This is probably the first time this has happened in the history of ever....an elephant seeing a sea lion swim in an aquarium.
now his is nice.
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When I was at the Zoo there was  an Otter swimming on his back while  pleasuring him self.
I had to explain to onlookers what the horny little guy  doing.  Do they really think animals don't get the urge also.
@Leinenkugle's Why was it necessary to share this? Couldn't we just enjoy the story about the elephant walking around?
 @lawenla speaking about joying, the little otter was the happiest guy at the zoo that day.  you should give it a try.
 @Leinenkugle's 10% of all otters do this.
@Leinenkugle's You're up on that "pleasuring" business? Howzat?
 @Leinenkugle's  Have you seen the video of the hippo with explosive diarhhea? You might enjoy that one too.
 @Leinenkugle's Thanks for sharing.
I wonder why it is no longer allowed? Seemed to be good for the elephant to get out and explore.
Funny...I was betting fake. The sea lions are my favorite too, I can sit and watch them for a while, there's something soothing in watching them swim.
That's a cute photo. Too bad rules get in the way of variety.
 @starshadow elephants are an intelligent species. We certainly wouldn't want them to become smarter than the people who come to see them. :-P