OSINT: Challenge #005 - Gralhix
Table of Contents
Challenge Description
Source: https://gralhix.com/list-of-osint-exercises/osint-exercise-005/
The following image is a screenshot from a zoo live cam. It was taken on January 15, 2023, at around 2pm local time.
Objectives:
- Name of the zoo where these polar bears were located.
- Find the temperature at the time of the screenshot.
- Find the exact coordinates were the bears were laying down.
Click here to open the photo on a new tab.
Solution
Initial Observations
Based on the original post, the following pivot points can be identified:
- P1: We can see a ramp supported by two stone columns.
- P2: There is also a large cone-shaped wall, with a different type of stone protruding from the top.
- P3: A house with a green roof can be seen in the background.
- P4: A raised wall can be seen in the lower part of the image, with horizontally cut stones and straight lines.
- P5: The garden contains a significant amount of vegetation, including some reddish flowers.
Google Image Search
Since polar bears are relatively uncommon in zoos, the first search will be a very straightforward one: zoo polar bear.
- The first results point to two zoos in particular: the North Carolina Zoo and the San Diego Zoo.
The next step is to search for images of the polar bear enclosures at both zoos and compare them with the photo from the challenge.
- At first glance, the San Diego Zoo appears to have two images that closely resemble the photos from the challenge.
After taking a closer look at the images and comparing them with the Google Earth imagery, we can confirm that the polar bears are located at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California, United States. The coordinates are: 32.734467, -117.154582.
The final task is to find the temperature at the time of the screenshot. According to the challenge description, the screenshot was taken on January 15, 2023, at around 2 PM. Since the challenge provides a specific date and time, we can use historical weather data to determine the approximate temperature at the time. For this, we can use this tool: [https://www.wunderground.com/history/](https://www.wunderground.com/history/).
- The temperature in San Diego that day was approximately 16–17°C (61–63°F).
- Source: https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/san-diego/KSAN/date/2023-1-15 .