The year 2025 will also be remembered as the year that saw the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated and heavily manipulated wildlife videos across India. In city after city in 2025, fake wildlife videos have forced forest departments to issue repeated clarifications. Anyone creating or knowingly circulating fake images or messages about leopards in the city, officials said, could face criminal cases. The caution came after the department found itself repeatedly responding to AI-generated images of leopards in urban neighbourhoods. For example, a fake bear video traced to a person in another state became a non-bailable IT offence involving shifting IP addresses and VPNs.

Source: The Telegraph December 30, 2025 06:44 UTC