Jeypore: The Forest Department has exposed a fake photograph that claimed to show a 10-foot-long crocodile in the Badapada river under Jayantigiri panchayat in Jeypore Sadar block of Odisha’s Koraput district, informed Dr Amit Prakash Nayak, ACF, Jeypore.The department clarified that there was no crocodile in the river and the viral image had been created using artificial intelligence (AI).The photograph, which went viral on August 31, created panic among farmers and locals in the area. Some media organisations also carried reports based on the viral image.Forest Department officials conducted an inquiry and found that the photograph was AI-generated. Officials subsequently traced the image to two brothers from Badapada village, identified as Purna Bhumia and Surendra Bhumia.The two were handed over to the Borigumma police by the Forest Department. A case was registered under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, and further investigation is underway.During questioning, one of the brothers, who has studied up to Class VIII, demonstrated to Forest Department officials how he had created the crocodile image on a mobile phone using an AI tool.Police later released the two brothers after obtaining a written undertaking from them that they would not repeat such an act.Police later released the two brothers after obtaining a written undertaking from them that they would not repeat such an act.Forest officials have urged people not to believe or circulate unverified photographs on social media. They also appealed to media organisations to verify viral photographs and contact the concerned departmental officials before publishing reports based on such content.
AI-generated crocodile photo sparks panic in Odisha’s Jeypore; two brothers detained
