Thai PBS Verify discovered that a Facebook user named "Siriporn Pimrat" posted a video clip showing a hyena being chased by an elephant to retrieve its ear. The clip has been shared over 300 times, with some viewers believing it to be real. However, experts have confirmed that the video was edited and does not depict a real event.
Source: Facebook
A screenshot of the fake Facebook post sharing the clip
The phrase "Lost an ear, give it back!" was featured in a video clip posted by a Facebook user on November 23, 2024.
The clip shows an African elephant with only one ear chasing a hyena, which is running away while carrying the elephant's ear. The video has gained significant attention, with over 21,000 likes and more than 500 comments. Some viewers expressed skepticism, while others believed it to be real, posting comments such as:
- How is this even possible?
- How did it lose its ear?
- Just give it back, it's not ours.
- But… at first glance, I already felt sorry for the poor elephant.
A screenshot of viewers’ comments on the video
Additionally, the same video has been shared in multiple languages, including English, Persian, Chinese, and Russian.
A screenshot showing the video being shared in various languages
The Sad Truth
A reverse image search using keyframes on Google revealed that the original video was first published on September 4, 2022. However, it was found that the original video differs from the recently posted fake version, in the authentic video, the elephant has both ears intact, unlike in the edited clip, where one ear appears to be missing.
Screenshot comparison: Fake Facebook post (left) vs. Unedited TikTok video (right)
The clip used The clip used in the edited video was found to originate from a real incident. A foreign TikTok user initially posted a video showing a hyena carrying an elephant’s ear. However, the ear belonged to a baby elephant that had been attacked by a group of hyenas after it fell ill. Despite its mother’s presence, the baby elephant was eventually killed and consumed by the hyenas. (Link to archived footage)
A screenshot of the original video before being edited
Expert Insights on Detecting Edited Videos
Asst. Prof. Dr. Rachada Kongkachandra, a lecturer in Data Science and Innovation at the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University, analyzed the video and confirmed that it was clearly edited. However, she pointed out that this was not an AI-generated video but rather a manually edited one, based on the following observations:
Asst. Prof. Dr. Rachada Kongkachandra, a lecturer in Data Science and Innovation, the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University
Signs of Video Manipulation:
- The elephant appears sharper than the background.
- The angle of the shot was chosen to show only one ear, making it look as if the elephant was searching for its missing ear.
Original source: https://www.thaipbs.or.th/now/content/1975
