Amid ongoing protests against the clearing of the Kancha Gachibowli forest in Hyderabad, an image showing bulldozers destroying trees while animals and birds flee in panic is doing the rounds on social media. Many users claim that it is an image from the recent forest clearance near the University of Hyderabad.
The picture has been shared on Facebook with a caption: “Major Environmental Loss as Authorities Cleared 400 Acres of Lush Forest.”
Here’s the link to the above post. (Archive)
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above claim, and found it to be FALSE.
Several visual inconsistencies were noticeable in the image. The background appeared unnaturally blurred, and the anatomy of certain animals, such as the birds and deer, showed distortions and unrealistic clarity — particularly in the feathers of peacocks and the deer’s fur. Notably, a deer in the image appeared to have no body, only a floating head, raising strong suspicion about the image’s legitimacy.
Analysing the image through multiple AI-detection platforms — Hive Moderation (98.2%), Sightengine (99%), and WasItAI — NewsMobile confirmed that the picture is artificially created.
Additionally, a response from Perplexity AI to a query about the image also noted that it was “likely AI”.
Since March 31, over 50 bulldozers have been deployed to clear forest land near the University of Hyderabad. The action has triggered protests by students, environmentalists, and university staff. The Supreme Court of India recently intervened, instructing the Telangana Chief Secretary to halt all tree-cutting until further notice. Similarly, the Telangana High Court has directed the state’s Congress-led government to pause deforestation activities until the matter is heard further in court.
While the environmental concerns and public opposition to the Kancha Gachibowli forest clearance are genuine, the viral image claiming to be from the site is misleading.
