This time we have a moving story for you that was sent to us by users and touched us during our research. At the same time, it is a reminder of why it is so important to verify information before sharing it.

An image that causes a stir

Recently, a fascinating image was shared on the Our Planet Facebook page showing a pelican and a dog lying peacefully on a pier. At first glance, you might think that this image is a product of artificial intelligence. The reason for this is that the dog and the pelican look very “smooth” and “soft-focus”!

Fact Check: Pelican Befriended a Stray Dog

The real story behind the viral photo

We found the original image. The image, which was posted on Twitter back in early 2019, tells the story of “Petey,” the pelican, who adopted a stray dog. But that's not entirely true.

Fact Check: Pelican Befriended a Stray Dog

The image, which is at least ten years old, shows a pelican named Osman and an unnamed stray dog. Osman was a kind of city mascot in the Turkish city of Erdek. Unfortunately, Osman has now passed away.

Fact Check: Pelican Befriended a Stray Dog

Osman and his canine pal: an unlikely friendship

Our research revealed that Osman and the anonymous dog had a real and deep friendship. Numerous photos and videos show them walking, playing, eating and sleeping together on the Turkish coast.

Fact Check: Pelican Befriended a Stray Dog

Although not much is known about the dog, his relationship with Osman has touched the hearts of many. Osman, despite his age or an injury that prevented him from flying, was known for his adventurous excursions and his kindness to the people of Erdek.

The end of an unusual friendship

The touching story of Osman and his dog friend unfortunately has a sad ending. After Osman's death, the dog stopped coming to the beach. A fisherman from Erdek reported : “After Osman's death, the friendly, sweet dog was no longer seen on the beach. Normally, dogs and pelicans were never separated.”

claimFact check
The photo shows “Petey the Pelican” who has befriended a stray dog.The photo actually shows “Osman the Pelican” and a stray dog ​​in Erdek, Türkiye.
The photo was taken in December 2018 and the photographer adopted the stray dog.The photo is at least a decade old. It is unclear who took the photo and whether the dog was adopted by anyone.
The pelican shown in the photo is called “Petey”.The pelican in the photo is actually called “Osman” and was more than well known in Erdek, Türkiye.
The pelican and the dog were brought together by the photographer.There is no evidence that the photographer brought the two animals together. Instead, numerous footage shows that Osman and the stray dog ​​had a natural friendship.
The pelican named “Petey” and the stray dog ​​were inseparable and the dog still visits the place where they were together.After the death of Osman the pelican, the stray dog ​​stopped coming to the beach, according to a local fisherman.

Conclusion

The story reminds us that animals can also form deep bonds and friendships. At the same time, it shows how important it is to critically question and check information from the Internet. While the story of “Petey the Pelican” and the Stray Dog was touching, it wasn’t entirely true.

Also read: Beware of fraudulent animal, puppy and cat trading on the Internet


If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:

📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.

Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!

* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!


Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )