Akron Was Told Two Lions Were Loose by a Garbage Can. The Zoo Says the Photo Was AI and All 4 Lions Are Home.

AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 11, 2026 — The picture looked convincing enough: two African lions loitering next to a garbage can somewhere in Akron. The Akron Zoo says it was made by a computer, and its lions never left.

"There has recently been inaccurate information about the Akron Zoo's African lions escaping earlier this week," the zoo said on social media, according to UPI. "Some statements include a false AI photo of a lion in Akron."

All four of the zoo's lions are safe in their habitat, officials said. A crew from News 5 Cleveland went to check in person and confirmed that Msinga, Katawba and Donovan were right where they were supposed to be.

The rumor appears to have had a real seed. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the zoo ran a set of safety drills with the Akron police and fire departments. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, it has to run at least four a year, and those include dangerous-animal escape drills. Somewhere between the drill and the internet, a practice run turned into a pair of lions by a trash can.

Zoo visitors were not amused by the stunt. "It's scary what people are doing with AI images and how easy it is to fool a lot of people," Benjamin Wagner told News 5. Another visitor, Abbey Hoxworth, had a simpler theory: "I think people are bored online."

Security expert Tim Dimoff told the station the fix is old-fashioned. Before sharing a post about escaped animals, check with the zoo or the police. "Because if there's something dangerous or alarming, they're going to post it immediately," he said.