March 13, 2026
Thimphu – A tiger walks silently beside a researcher. A leopard is chased away by a pet cat. Bears jumping on the trampoline in the backyard.
Artificial intelligence (AI)-generated wildlife videos are quickly spreading across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, garnering millions of views. Many appear realistic enough to fool viewers, but conservation experts warn that these fabricated scenes are increasingly distorting people’s understanding of wildlife.
The proliferation of AI-generated wildlife content is part of a broader transformation in digital media. Generative AI tools allow you to create compelling videos quickly and inexpensively, without any experience or filming equipment in the field.
The mistake may be obvious to a trained wildlife professional. But for most viewers scrolling through their social media feeds, that’s not the case.
Conservationists say the impact goes beyond harmless entertainment.
Around the world, faked wildlife clips are already causing chaos.
A widely shared video shows a leopard appearing in a backyard and a pet cat bravely confronting it and chasing it away. Another photo shows a deer and a bear bouncing on a trampoline. Although such scenarios are completely artificial, they are widely circulated online as real-life wildlife encounters.
Other viral videos depict dangerous animals acting like pets, with people cuddling tigers, feeding wild bears and peacefully interacting with predators.
Experts warn that such depictions misrepresent the animals’ natural behavior and can encourage dangerous interactions with wildlife.
This issue is already having real-world effects in several countries.
In India, an AI-generated video showing a tiger attacking a man outside his home went viral on social media before authorities confirmed there was no incident.
Officials warned that such fabricated videos could stoke fear and lead to retaliatory killings of wildlife already under pressure from human-animal conflict.
Similarly, Japanese authorities have issued warnings about the large number of AI-generated bear videos circulating online. Some depict humans safely feeding bears or confronting them. Experts say the sight could dangerously mislead the public about how to behave around wild animals.
Even conservation experts are sometimes misled. In Djibouti, a video of a lioness crossing a road briefly excited conservationists, but experts later confirmed it was entirely generated by AI.
Conservationists say their biggest concern is that wildlife conservation relies heavily on public awareness.
Fear, admiration, tolerance, and respect all influence society’s response to animals that coexist with humans. If AI-generated videos exaggerate attacks or fabricate encounters, they can fuel concerns in communities already dealing with real-life wildlife risks.
Conversely, portraying wild animals as friendly companions can make them less wary and encourage dangerous behavior.
This problem now extends to Bhutan’s digital space as well.
An AI-generated video that recently went viral on TikTok depicts a Bhutanese tiger peacefully interacting with researchers, suggesting the animal is friendly and poses no threat. The video received widespread attention online.
However, the Department of Forests and Parks (DoFPS) strongly refuted such depictions.
The ministry said Bhutan’s tigers are apex predators in their wild territories and do not naturally engage in friendly or human-like interactions with people. AI-generated videos depicting them as friendly are scientifically inaccurate and potentially dangerous.
Officials warn that such content can lull young viewers, especially those who consume large amounts of digital media, into a false sense of security.
“In Bhutan, many communities live near forests and protected areas,” a DoFPS official said. “It is essential that people understand that tigers and other wild animals are unpredictable and must be respected at all times from a safe distance.”
The department also said that beyond public safety, misleading content can undermine conservation messages that have been built over decades. Officials stressed that Bhutan’s reputation as a global conservation leader is based on science-based wildlife management and ecosystem health, not a romanticized or fabricated narrative.
The Ministry monitors misleading content and provides clarification through official communication channels when necessary.
At the same time, authorities recognize that AI itself is not the problem.
In fact, AI is becoming increasingly important in conservation science. Researchers around the world are using machine learning to analyze camera trap images, identify species, track animal movements, and process vast amounts of ecological data more efficiently.
DoFPS is also leveraging AI and has begun implementing surveillance systems that support AI. The department is piloting an AI-based human-wildlife conflict mitigation tool designed to detect animals early and alert nearby communities. These technologies can enhance public safety and enhance conservation responses.
The challenge, experts say, is to ensure that AI is used responsibly.
DoFPS is currently working with communications and ICT authorities to consider digital guidelines that would encourage clearer labeling of AI-generated wildlife content.
Environmental education programs and school nature clubs are also being strengthened to help young people distinguish between real wildlife records and fabricated images.
As AI continues to reshape the digital landscape, conservationists say critical thinking and responsible sharing have become essential.
Wildlife conservation ultimately depends on a shared understanding of the realities in which animals live, how they behave, and the risks they pose. Experts warn that the challenge of protecting wildlife will become even more difficult when AI-generated images obscure that reality.
