Fact Check: Viral image of dolphin foetus is silicon model, not real photograph
The image is fake as it shows a silicon model of a dolphin 12 months of development.
By Sunanda Naik Published on 2 Feb 2024 12:13 PM GMT![Fact Check: Viral image of dolphin foetus is silicon model, not real photograph Fact Check: Viral image of dolphin foetus is silicon model, not real photograph](https://newsmeter.in/h-upload/2024/02/02/363289-whatsapp-image-2024-02-02-at-173908e408aea2.webp)
Hyderabad: An image supposedly showing a dolphin foetus in the womb has taken the internet by storm with many claiming the image to be real.
Similar posts were also shared on multiple social media platforms such as Instagram, X and YouTube as well. The viral image is being shared with the caption, āAwesome baby dolphin inside itās mom. (sic)ā
We found that the same image was being shared on social media since 2012 assuming it to be a real depiction of a dolphinās womb. Letās find out the truth behind the viral image.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the image is fake as it shows a silicon model of a dolphin 12 months of development.
On performing a reverse image search taking the viral image, we found the same image uploaded on a website David Barlow film archive titled trans-illuminated womb dated 2018.
Here, the viral image could be seen as part of a video. The description of the video depicting a dolphin baby was mentioned as a āsilicon model of a dolphin 12-month development.ā
The same was also published on Barlowās YouTube channel in September 1, 2014. According to the description of the video, ā12-month Dolphin foetus In the Womb just before birth. The model was made for the āIn the Wombā series of programmes produced by Pioneer Productions and shown on National Geographic television in the US and Channel 4 television in the UK. This is a motion control shot of the foetus, lit as though light is glowing through the motherās body.ā
Over a keyword search, we found the same image on Reddit with the title āa dolphin foetus photograph inside its motherās womb.ā The flair for the image on the website was marked as āMisleading Title.ā
Moreover, we found the same image on 9gag as well with the title āNational Geographic producer Peter Chinn created images of unborn animals using a combination of 4-D scanning, CGI and tiny camera for the TV series āIn the Wombā.
In this image, a similar depiction of an elephantās foetus was also represented. Hence, it is evident that this longstanding viral image is not a real photograph but a silicon model.