Forest department officials arrested two individuals on Thursday for circulating a fake video that falsely claimed a tiger sighting near Kondaskopp and Yeramal. The suspects, identified as Sheetal Patil and Mallesh Desai, are residents of Kondaskopp.
Belgaum Divisional Forest Officer Purushottam Rao revealed that the pair had received a video of a leopard, which they then altered and circulated on social media, misrepresenting it as a tiger sighting. “We had earlier notified the public about a genuine leopard sighting in the area and had taken precautions. However, Sheetal and Mallesh aggravated the situation by sharing a doctored video that appeared to show a tiger,” Rao said.
The forest department confirmed that the video was a hoax, showing a hybrid animal, possibly a cross between a tiger and a leopard. Rao added that they are investigating the source of the original video and plan to take strict action against those responsible for creating and spreading the false information.
The department has warned the public about the risks of sharing unverified information, especially on social media, as it can cause unnecessary panic and disrupt public order. The arrested individuals are likely to face fines for their actions.
This incident highlights the need to verify information before sharing it, particularly when it involves wildlife sightings that can cause public anxiety and spread misinformation. The forest department continues to monitor the situation and urges the public to rely on official sources for accurate information.
