Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
Herd of elephants seen running to safety an hour before landslides hit Wayanad.
Fact
Video dates back to at least January 2024, not linked to recent landslides.
Over 370 people were dead and several others injured after landslides hit multiple areas of Wayanad district during the early hours on July 30. The rescue operations, and the search for the missing are currently underway. In this backdrop, several social media users, including verified handles, shared a video claiming to show a herd of elephants “running to safety” an hour before the landslides hit Wayanad district last week. Newschecker, however, found the video to be old, and unrelated to the recent disaster in Kerala.
The 27-second-long-video is being circulated on Facebook and X with users claiming, “Elephants running to safety 1 hour before the landslide in Wayanad, Kerala. Animals have subtle vision.”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Old, Unrelated Images From Idukki Linked To Recent Landslides In Wayanad
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to a YouTube video by @TravelwithAJ96, dated April 3, 2024. It featured the same visuals of a herd of elephants crossing the road.
We also found a slightly different version of the viral footage shared on Instagram by @yathrakarude_sradhakku on January 12, 2024. “Just 900 Kandi things…,” the post stated.
A comparison between the keyframes of the viral footage and the Instagram video can be seen below.
Furthermore, we noticed a watermark of “@wayanadan” on the Instagram video. Taking a clue, we skimmed through the Instagram account of @wayanadan, and found a post from January carrying the same video.
We were independently not able to ascertain the exact location of the video. However, it dates back to at least January 2024 and does not show elephants running to safety 1 hour before the Wayanad landslides.
Also Read: 2001 Image of El Salvador Earthquake Viral As Wayanad Landslide
Conclusion
Hence, an old video has been falsely shared to show a herd of elephants running to safety an hour before the landslide hit Wayanad.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By @TravelwithAJ96, Dated April 3, 2024
Instagram Post By @yathrakarude_sradhakku, Dated January 12, 2024
Instagram Post By @wayanadan, Dated January 12, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
