China admits controversial tiger photos faked - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

China admits controversial tiger photos faked
29 Jun 2008 04:24:11 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, June 29 (Reuters) - China has sacked a number
of government officials and arrested a man in connection
with a set of fake photographs that local authorities had
said was proof of the existence of a highly endangered
tiger.

In October, forestry officials in Zhenping county in
northern Shaanxi province published photos of a tiger in
a forest setting, saying they were proof of the existence
of the South China tiger. A local farmer who produced the
photos was paid a 20,000 yuan ($2,900) reward.

Nine months later, officials admitted the photos were
faked, state media said, citing sources at a press
conference held by the Shaanxi province government.

-snip-

Zhou Zhenglong, the farmer who claimed to have taken the
photo using a digital camera, was arrested on suspicion
of fraud, Xinhua said, after police seized a picture of a
tiger which he borrowed from a farmer in another village
to produce the photos.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK264929.htm

[Mojorabbit]

1. How sad it that.

That we have come to faking photos that an endangered animal might still be around.

[Mind_your_head]

2. Uh, is it "just me" OR take a careful re-read of this sentence

after police seized a picture of a
tiger which he borrowed from a farmer in another village
to produce the photos.

-------

So did the 'farmer in another village' actually see/photog the endangered tiger, but was unwilling to come forward with the picture, so then Zhou Zhenglong DID produce it (claiming it was his)? ..... not for fame/glory necessarily, but for the endangered species? :shrug: (possible, yes?)

Or is the Chinese government lying? Or a little of both?

Not enough information here (as is USUAL). Don't lose your 'critical thinking' skills.

Nothing is right or 'straight-up' about this story ~ or MOST stories these days, imo.

-------

edit to add this paragraph:

.... officials admitted the photos were
faked, state media said, citing sources at a press
conference held by the Shaanxi province government.

Officials admitted .... photos....faked, state media said......citing sources held by the ...... province government.

Well, if THAT isn't a LOT of pressure to say what the gub'mint wants you to say......I don't know what would be.

.......

BTW, I don't know ANYTHING about this story OTHER than this article. I'm just pointing out that this article smells, yet points to some (?) truths mebbe :shrug:

M_Y_H

[jobycom]

3. Sounds like the other farmer had an old photo that the farmer took pictures of.

:shrug: I'm pretty critical, but I'm just as critical of criticalness. :)

[Mind_your_head]

4. How does 'one' know if it's an old photo?

Maybe the photo was rather current.

Please see my edits to my post #2.

Could be 'interesting' if this animal is still 'out there'. Hopefully it is. :-)

edit to add: 'truth is the goal'....and there's so much politics/shenanigans that attempts to obscure it all....it's very, very tiring.

And with that said,
I'm off to bed....

(Hey, that rhymed! D*mn ;-) )

[FedUpWithIt All]

5. I believe it means a picture of a non endangered species.

The picture was then altered to appear as if it was of the rare tiger.