(CNN) It gives new meaning to the phrase "a wolf in sheep's clothing." Or in this case, a donkey in zebra stripes.

A zoo in Cairo, Egypt, has been accused of trying to fool visitors by painting zebra stripes onto a donkey, but the zoo director insists the animal is the real thing.

Mahmoud Sarhan, 18, said he was visiting a recently-opened animal sanctuary at the International Garden municipal park when he spotted a strange looking animal.

Sarhan shared this image from his trip on July 21.

Sarhan said several things about the animal stood out and made him suspicious. The black paint had melted on the donkey's face and the ears didn't look like the right size for a zebra, he said.

He posted a picture on his Facebook page, which quickly went viral.

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