AI-Generated Video of 'Monkeys Feasting' at Temple Goes Viral as Real Visuals

AI-detection platforms Hive Moderation and Was It AI concluded that the image was created using AI.

Fact-Check: This video is created using AI and is not real as claimed. 

(Source: The Quint) 

As Onam approaches, an image showing monkeys eating from banana leaves in an orderly manner, surrounded by several police personnel in a temple-like setting, has gone viral on social media.

The claim: Those sharing the video claimed that it was from the Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Sasthamkotta, Kerala, which is known for its traditional "Vanara Sadya," a feast served to monkeys on plantain leaves.

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: X/Screenshot) 

(Archives of similar claims can be found here and here.)

Is the claim true?: While a ritual of feeding monkeys in this manner takes place at the Shri Dharma Sastha temple in Kerala, this viral visual is created using artificial intelligence (AI) and is NOT real.

What we found: At first, we ran a keyword search to find whether such a ritual take place at the said temple in Kerala during Onam.

• As per a report by The Hindu from 30 August 2023, the temple serves a special vegetarian feast to monkeys, a practice rooted in the Ramayana era and considered auspicious.

• The report stated that this tradition attracts large crowds and sponsors.

Here is a preview of The Hindu report.

(Source: The Hindu/Screenshot) 

• The keyword search also led us to a video on YouTube by Kerala Tourism from 2022. It showed the ritual of the 'Vanarasadya' at the Shri Dharma Sastha temple in Kollam.

• In the clip, the monkeys can be seen enjoying the feast in their style, unlike the viral image which shows them sitting in an orderly fashion.

Discrepancies in the image: We looked at the viral visual closely and noticed some issues.

• The background looks extremely blurred and the facial features of the police officers are not clear. These signs raised a flag and we ran the image on AI-detection platforms.

Here are some noticeable discrepancies in the viral image. 

(Source: Altered by The Quint) 

• Using platforms such as Hive Moderation and Was It AI, we were able to ascertain that the viral image was AI-generated and not real. Swipe to see the results.

Here are the results by Hive Moderation. 

Here are the results by Was It AI. 

Additionally, a similar video showing monkeys eating food in banana leaves with police personnel around them is also being shared as one from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

• Those sharing the clip noted that this feast happened on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami.

• Readers can view some posts here and here.

• However, we ran the video on Hive Moderation and found that it was also created using AI.

Here are the results by Hive Moderation. 

(Source: Hive Moderation) 

Conclusion: While the tradition of feeding monkeys at the Shri Dharma Sastha temple in Kerala is true, the image in the viral posts is not real and created using AI.

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