Shanghai Zoo Criticized Amid Kangaroo AI Video Debate

A zoo in Shanghai, China, is under renewed scrutiny after viral footage showed red kangaroos appearing sedated while being petted and fed by visitors, prompting animal welfare concerns and suspicions from wildlife experts that the animals may have been drugged. Australian carer Helen Round noted that exporting wild Australian animals to foreign zoos is common, sometimes involving questionable practices. The zoo has previously faced criticism over other animal welfare incidents, including fatal attacks and forcing animals to participate in races. Separately, viral AI-generated videos of a kangaroo holding a boarding pass at an airport, originally posted by the account 'Infinite Unreality,' have misled social media users and sparked debate about the realism of AI content. The convergence of real animal welfare issues and the spread of convincing AI-generated animal videos highlights persistent challenges around animal ethics and misinformation in digital media. These developments underscore the need for increased vigilance in both animal welfare and media literacy.