Did Google kill a donkey?

Jan 16

Web Only

Did Google kill a donkey?

Netizens suspect Google Street View car of donkey hit-and-run in Botswana.

Screenshot from Kweneng, Botswana [Google Street View].

A photo from Google's Street View in Botswana went viral after one Twitter user raised concerns about a donkey lying in the middle of a dirt road.

As netizens dissected the Street View images, the online debate prompted Google to deny allegations that the donkey was hurt.

Google's Street View has recently expanded to include countries and territories around the world, coming to Botswana last February.

View the story "Did Google kill a donkey?" on StorifyDid Google kill a donkey?Netizens suspect Google Street View car of donkey hit-and-run in Botswana.Storified by The Stream· Wed, Jan 16 2013 10:12:15The tweet that ignited the online fervour was retweeted more than 1,000 times:I think google street view ran over a donkey in Botswana;http://maps.gstatic.com/m/streetview/?hl=en&ll=-23.527824,24.72265&spn=8.405416,14.27124&t=m&layer=c&cbll=-23.527824,24.72265&panoid=3L-F887yPcBnejtJvT6DoA&cbp=12,335.71,,0,19.65&z=7Dr. Sheldon Cooper Some netizens accused Google of killing the donkey:"Do no evil" apparently doesn't apply to donkeys RT @dineshvasudevan: Did Google run over a donkey in Botswana? http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2dFS03MartinGoogle Street View is in Botswana now - and apparently Google kill donkeys there too..keep and eye out for the donkey http://goo.gl/maps/lkkEBAshley HandelaarThe evidence is fairly compelling RT @duncanrobinson: Question: did Google street view run over a donkey in Botswana? https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=-23.527824,24.72265&spn=8.405416,14.27124&t=m&layer=c&cbll=-23.527824,24.72265&panoid=3L-F887yPcBnejtJvT6DoA&cbp=12,335.71,,0,19.65&z=7Tom Peck@thanland @TheRealSheldonC @andresdavid it looks like it was still down as the car moved on. http://pic.twitter.com/uSQyv8VwNoah ClementsOthers defended Google, claiming the donkey was not hit by the Street View car, but was rolling in the sand. @TheRealSheldonC could have just been having a good roll about in the sand but yeah... lots of donkeys on Botswana's roads.Paul Watson@tompeck @duncanrobinson @avrilmair let's look on the bright side. I think that donkey is simply choosing to have a nice roll.adele mitchellOne netizen even took his defence of Google to YouTube by posting the following video, attempting to exonerate Google of the charges. (Donkey appears at 1:35).Google Did Not Run Over the Donkey!bodnarbmNetizens also cited the image below as evidence that the donkey was beside the road as Google's Street View car drove past it:Google Street ViewAJstream@TheRealSheldonC @jtarrio If you rotate the camera to the site, you can see the donkey still alive!Alex Akers@TheRealSheldonC @AgileDevPrac you’re looking at the pictures in the wrong order. It startled a donkey having a dust bath.Nat PryceAs speculation mounted, Google released a statement saying it was "pleased to confirm the donkey was alive and well". "Our Street View teams take the safety of people and donkeys very seriously," the spokesperson said. "A review of our imagery confirms that we did not cause any harm to the donkey."Did Google run over a donkey in Botswana? (No, it's just walking backwards) | Information, Gadgets, Mobile Phones News & Reviews | The Courier-Mail