Unique composite photo of wild animals in the central hills shared out of context!

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A composite image is formed by combining multiple individual images into one. Such composite images are, at times, used to highlight key instances. However, these images also get shared with misleading interpretations on social media.

Let’s look at one such image, which went viral in Sri Lanka, parallel to World Wildlife Day on the 3^rd of February.

Social Media Posts

A viral photo depicting a leopard, a wild rabbit, a domestic dog, a domestic cat, an ocelot, and other beings in the exact location suggests harmony among different species despite some being carnivores and their prey species.

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In response to these viral images, many Facebook users identified that the image was not original, with many suggestions on how this unique creation was made.

We decided to investigate the origins of this viral image.

Fact Check

Through keyword and reverse image searches, we identified that the viral photo is a composite image initially posted by the Parrot Fish Collective (PFC), an environmental conservation collective carried out by a group of volunteer-based wildlife enthusiasts.

The composite image was originally posted on PFC’s social channels on World Wildlife Day, March 3^rd, 2024. PFC mentions that the photo was taken in the Central Highlands during a three-week period in January. The image is a composite of photos taken at different night times, featuring various species navigating the same 4-way intersection. The photo features several species, including a leopard, a wild rabbit, a domestic dog, a cat, an ocelot, and other animals. More details on the significance of the image can be read in the post below by PFC,

The Parrot Fish Collective uploaded the original image, attributing the photography to Yanik Tiserra. We contacted Yanik, and he confirmed the above details and further said he used advanced camera equipment and used focus stacking or layer stacking technique and the photo was released to Parrot Fish Collective’s social media pages in parallel with World Life Day celebrations, as it syncs this year’s theme of “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”.

While composites can be ethically used to enhance artistic expression or illustrate specific concepts, they can also deceive viewers, distorting the truth about natural phenomena or animal behaviour. Therefore, it's important for viewers to critically evaluate such images to discern between authentic representations and misleading portrayals while understanding the real context.

Also Read: Is this a composite image of a lunar curve captured from the same location at the exact time during 28 consecutive days?

However, in nature, while there are many instances of human-animal conflicts, there are some instances in which most unexpected combinations of animals and humans coexist in harmony. Here is one such story.

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Conclusion:

It is essential to note that this photo is a composite and does not represent a single moment. It is unlikely that all these animals depicted have been near each other simultaneously. Instead, these animals were captured individually through different shots over three weeks. This composite image, released on World Wildlife Day, highlighting the diversity of wildlife in the area, should not be misconstrued as a portrayal of direct interspecies harmony.