Fact Check: Video showing Gujarat's Gir lions after cyclone Tauktae is from South Africa
Cyclone Tauktae that hit the coastal states of India, including Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat, wreaked havoc piling more pressure on Indian authorities already struggling with a huge caseload of COVID-19 infections.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 26 May 2021 5:05 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Cyclone Tauktae that hit the coastal states of India, including Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat, wreaked havoc piling more pressure on Indian authorities already struggling with a huge caseload of COVID-19 infections.
More than 2,00,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Gujarat and authorities shut down ports and major airports as the most powerful cyclone in more than two decades lashed the state.
Meanwhile, a viral video is circulating on Twitter with the claim that a group of 18 lions was found at the Gir National Park in Gujarat.
The video is reportedly related to the cyclonic storm that the state witnessed a couple of days ago. The post by a Twitter user stated that the lions are safe.
Fact Check:
The claim that the video is from Gir National Park in Gujarat is FALSE.
NewsMeter searched for the Twitter account that had posted the video and found that the account named 'humsamvet' had posted the video on 21 May 2021. NewsMeter further found that the account belongs to a Hindi magazine that circulates in Madhya Pradesh. Through followerwonk, we found that the account was created more than a year ago and had 505 followers.
According to a report by Vishwas News and The Indian Express, the video was first shared by Dr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta, the additional chief secretary (forest and environment) and MD of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, government of Gujarat.
However, the tweet was later pulled down by Dr. Rajiv and he issued a clarification, "It is regretted that a wrong video was posted along with statement of Lion safety in Gir landscape. PCCF (Wild Life) Shyamal Tikadar has apologised for his lapse and indiscretion. Inconvenience & confusion caused is sincerely regretted with an assurance for double caution in future," he tweeted.
A report by The Indian Express had also stated the Gujarat officials had apologized for sharing the video which is from South Africa. According to the report, the video was taken at the Mala Mala Game Reserve.
NewsMeter then did a reverse image search that took us to the Instagram account of MalaMala Game Reserve. The video was originally posted by @legendsafaris and had been reposted by the reserve authorities on 13 February 2021.
A video from South Africa's MalaMala Game Reserve has been shared with claims that it is from Gujarat's Gir National Park after Cyclone Tauktae. Hence, the claim is FALSE.
