New York Zoo hoax of 1874

The Central Park Zoo escape hoax was an elaborate prank published by the New York Herald, claiming that dangerous animals had escaped from the zoo, killing several people. The story, which detailed the escapes of animals like lions, tigers, and polar bears, caused widespread panic in New York. However, at the very end of the article, the paper revealed that the entire report was fabricated. Despite this, the hoax sparked significant backlash, with many criticizing the newspaper for inciting unnecessary fear.