Rescue operations in Hyderabad hit hard by surge in AI-generated snake images. Resources stretched thin, trust between wildlife rescue groups and public eroding. Friends of Snakes Society (FoSS) reports spike in prank calls,hoaxes since year's start, with fake images pulling attention from real emergencies.
Initially,about five to ten such images came in monthly. Now, it's multiple AI images daily. Avinash Visvanathan, general secretary of FoSS, said they need photos to accurately assess situations,prepare right tools for snake rescues. “We understand snakes aren't always in easy spots for photos,” he explained.
Though society screens images,they don't dismiss calls outright. Some callers send AI images claiming they saw a snake but couldn't snap a pic as it slipped into tough spots. So they create images resembling what they saw .
The rise in hoaxes brings real problems. Time, fuel,and manpower diverted from real emergencies to chase false reports. Delays real rescues,stirs panic in community. “Fake wildlife emergencies have real consequences,” Mr. Visvanathan stressed, noting their mission to protect both people and animals.
Volunteer Nikhil Gourishetty recalled traveling over 20 kilometers for report of an Andaman Bronzeback snake by a motorbike . After 10 minutes of searching,found the caller generated image for fun. Meanwhile, a real snake rescue request was waiting in another area.
Exotic species in AI images often raise red flags, but organization stays alert. There were cases of exotic reptiles found outside usual habitats, like a green iguana saved from a mango tree in Dilsukhnagar March 2024 . FoSS checks images for biological accuracy,looking at length,girth . When unsure,they use AI tools,ask for more pics from different angles.
Misuse of AI tech for pranks complicates rescue efforts,erodes trust between public and wildlife groups. As FoSS fights this trend,they stress responsible communication about wildlife emergencies. They stay committed to mission,treating every call seriously,no matter circumstances…
