Was it AI? Perhilitan says Sungai Kinta crocodile sighting is a hoax

SHAH ALAM – A viral photo claiming to show a crocodile in Sungai Kinta near Kampung Pisang has been suspected to be AI-generated, according to the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).

Everyone has been freaking out over a supposed crocodile spotted chilling by Sungai Kinta, but plot twist: it’s not real.

Those viral pictures that had anglers clutching their fishing rods in fear might actually be AI-generated. Perhilitan came in with the ultimate reality check.

Its director, Yusoff Shariff, didn’t mince words when he said: “Fake. It’s an AI-edited (manipulated) photo. So far, we have not received any complaints regarding crocodile sightings in the area.”

Basically, what looked like a wild crocodile adventure might just be another case of the internet doing too much.

According to Yusoff, they found multiple images from the same spot, but instead of crocodiles, there were hippos. Yes, hippos.

He warned that random AI fakes like this can totally freak people out, especially those who frequent the river for a weekend fish.

“We urge the public not to spread false information or misuse technology,” he said.

Perhilitan can’t directly take down hoax posts, but Yusoff said the police or the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) could step in if needed.

The viral post had urged folks, especially anglers, to be cautious after what looked like a crocodile chilling near a bridge in Kampung Pisang.

But it looks like the only thing dangerous here is bad AI art. So if you see a ‘crocodile’ with suspiciously smooth skin or pixel-perfect lighting, maybe don’t panic.

Just thank AI for another weird day on Malaysian social media.