Nagpur: The Maharashtra Forest Department has expressed growing concern over the surge of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated wildlife videos on social media, warning that such misleading content is distorting public understanding of animal behaviour and causing unnecessary panic.
The latest controversy stems from a widely shared video allegedly showing a tiger attacking and killing a man at a rest house in the Brahmapuri Forest Division on October 31 at 6:42 p.m. In an official statement, the Forest Department clarified that no such incident had occurred in the Brahmapuri range under the Chandrapur Circle.
Officials condemned the circulation of such fabricated videos, stating that certain anti-social elements are taking advantage of the recent spike in human-wildlife conflict cases in the region to spread fear and misinformation. The department has appealed to citizens not to believe or share such AI-generated content.
Following instructions from the Chief Wildlife Warden of Maharashtra, the Divisional Forest Officer of Brahmapuri has initiated an inquiry into the matter. Authorities have also warned that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for creating and circulating the fake video.
This is the second such incident in the state where AI-generated videos have prompted official intervention. Earlier, a viral clip showed a drunken man patting a tiger near the Pench Tiger Reserve — a video later confirmed to be digitally fabricated. The Pench Tiger Reserve management, along with the police, had taken action against those behind its creation and circulation.
Officials have reiterated their warning to the public to verify the authenticity of wildlife-related videos before sharing them, emphasizing that such misinformation can seriously undermine conservation awareness and public safety.
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