The overview for this movie is basically the same one in every movie database website, a copy-pasted text that, arguably, originated in "the Moving Picture World" magazine, but as much as I've tried, I cannot find that issue anywhere. If someone knows its original publication date, if such issue even exists, that would help to shed some light on the matter.

But what I did find, was some good evidence showing the film is not from 1908, but 1909, like this exhibition program by Pathé that includes the film: https://www.fondation-jeromeseydoux-pathe.com/upload/medias//programme-animaux-site-bd-643832cf59795655556678.pdf

Even more, the Pathé records show that the film was first catalogued in November 1909, to be premiered, likely in December: http://web.archive.org/web/20190913113820/http://filmographie.fondation-jeromeseydoux-pathe.com/3440-l

Inside the film information from the link above, we can even see that Segundo de Chomón was in charge of the cinematography and the special effects, but his role as director is not totally confirmed, just "attributed": http://web.archive.org/web/20190913113820/http://filmographie.fondation-jeromeseydoux-pathe.com/3440-l

Finally, a copy of "The Billboard", volume 22, issue 26, page 46, from June 25, 1910 says the film premiered in the United States on May 18, 1910: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/The_Billboard_1910-06-25-_Vol_22_Iss_26_%28IA_sim_billboard_1910-06-25_22_26%29.pdf