The forest department in Pune has issued a strong public warning against the creation and circulation of fake or artificially generated images of wild animals, stating that such acts could lead to legal action under the Cyber Act. This advisory comes in the wake of digitally altered visuals, claiming to show a leopard-like animal in the Ramnadi riverbed area of Bavdhan, spreading rapidly across social media platforms this week.
Unverified Content Sparks Unnecessary Panic
Officials confirmed that the unverified content, which began circulating on December 2, triggered widespread and unnecessary fear among local residents. The alarming posts prompted the forest department to release a formal advisory on Thursday to address the growing concern. A joint inspection team, comprising personnel from the forest department, RESQCT volunteers, and the local police, immediately scoured the entire stretch of the Ramnadi river and its nearby zones following the viral claims.
The thorough investigation, however, yielded no evidence to support the online allegations. The team found no traces of a leopard—no pugmarks, droppings, or any signs of movement—directly contradicting the sensational claims made in the social media posts. Officials pointed out that several of the shared photos and videos appeared to be either AI-generated or digitally manipulated.
Legal Consequences for Fabricated Content
A forest department official emphasized the serious repercussions of such misinformation. "Such visuals create confusion and disturb public peace," the official stated, adding that the dissemination of fabricated wildlife content would be dealt with strictly under existing cyber laws. The department labeled the spread of such fake alerts as a critical issue, noting multiple negative impacts.
The advisory highlighted that false leopard alerts have tangible consequences:
- They divert crucial rescue and administrative resources away from genuine emergencies.
- They mislead and unnecessarily alarm residents.
- They fuel avoidable fear in densely populated urban neighbourhoods like Bavdhan.
The forest department has urgently appealed to residents to refrain from forwarding or uploading any wildlife-related images without proper verification from authorities.
Report Genuine Sightings, Avoid Legal Trouble
While urging public caution against sharing fake content, the advisory also reiterated the correct protocol for real encounters. The department encouraged citizens to report any genuine sightings or suspicious animal movements immediately to the forest department or the police.
However, it drew a clear line, warning that creating or spreading sensational, misleading, or morphed content concerning wildlife would attract legal consequences. The department's firm stance underscores its commitment to using the Cyber Act to curb digital misinformation that threatens public order and safety.
