Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Octopus walking on the seabed.
Fact
Viral video is from a BBC series that uses an animatronic octopus with an in-built camera to document underwater life.
Several social media users are circulating a video of what appears to be an octopus walking on the seabed, evoking reactions of amusement and how the video is further proof of the theory of evolution.
The archived versions of the tweets can be seen here and here.
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Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this Youtube video, dated June 3, 2023, uploaded by BBC, titled “How many brains does an octopus have? | Spy in the Ocean”.
“Go deep beneath the waves – on a spy mission to the depths of the ocean. Amazing hidden cameras give incredible perspectives on the ingenious creatures that call it home,” read the video’s description. The viral video can be seen from the 00:30 mark, where the narrator calls the “walking octopus” a programmed aide that will help understand the coconut octopus, which inhabits the coral reefs of Indonesia.
A relevant keyword search led us to this PetaPixel write-up, dated June 7, 2023, titled “Spy Octopus Camera Gets Hug From Real Octopus in Wildlife Documentary”.
“BBC wildlife documentary Spy in the Ocean used a camera cunningly disguised an animatronic octopus to communicate with a real octopus in the ocean — even getting a tentacled cuddle from the creature in the process,” read the article, adding that “Spy in the Ocean” has innovatively used high-tech cameras built to look like animals to covertly capture remarkable footage of the creatures under the sea.
“These spycams were able to swim closer to animals than human divers and secretly record their behaviour in the wild, capturing unprecedented footage,” read the report. Similar reports can be seen here and here, confirming that the viral video shows BBC’s animatronic-spy octopus. “Four-part series Spy in the Ocean stars the next generation of undercover agents, featuring an animatronic dolphin, octopus, marine iguana, cuttlefish, seal – even a baby sperm whale,” read a South China Morning Post article.
Also Read: Water From Gutter Used To Make Biryani? Video Of Haryana Eatery Goes Viral With False Communal Spin
Conclusion
Viral video claimed to show an octopus walking on seabed is actually of an animatronic-spy octopus used by BBC for its underwater series.
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, BBC, June 3, 2023
PetaPixel article, June 7, 2023
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
