Zoo accused of trying to deceive tourists by painting donkey in black and white to pass it off as a zebra

AUTHORITIES of Cairo zoo the  Gardens Project have come under criticism for trying to deceive visitors by panting a donkey in black and white paint and trying to pass it off as a zebra in an attempt to woo tourists.

Visitors to the Egyptian zoo have accused its owners of giving a new meaning to the phrase a wolf in sheep's clothing by painting stripes on a donkey. Tourist Mahmoud Sarhan, 18, said he was visiting a recently-opened animal sanctuary at Cairo's International Garden Municipal Park when he spotted a strange looking animal.

Mr Sarhan said several things about the animal stood out and made him suspicious. he added that among them were the fact that the black paint had melted on the donkey's face and its ears didn't look like the right size for a zebra.

Immediately he spotted the animal, Mr Sarhan, who was on a holiday trip to Egypt, posted a picture on his Facebook page, which quickly went viral. In the photo, he posed next to the animal, looking bemused.

However, Mohammed Sultan, the director of the Gardens Project in Cairo has denied the reports that they had tried to pass off the donkey as a zebra. He said: "The zebra is real and not painted,"

In addition, Mr Sultan added that the animals are well taken care of and are inspected regularly to ensure their welfare. After reviewing the images, however, Delcianna Winders, the vice president of animal activist group the Peta Foundation, disagreed that this animal was well taken care of.

He added: "No reputable animal care facility would subject a skittish animal like a donkey to the stress of being restrained and sprayed with chemicals like paint, which could cause a painful allergic reaction. Peta  hopes that Cairo authorities are fully investigating this matter."