A viral image circulating on social media, which appears to show an orangutan cuddling a clouded leopard, has been confirmed as fake by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC).
The Sabah-based conservation and research centre said the widely shared image, particularly on Facebook, was most likely generated using artificial intelligence (AI), warning the public against believing or spreading such misleading content.
DGFC also refuted claims tied to the image that mentioned a supposed researcher named “Dr Amelia Toh-Ramirez”, clarifying that no such individual is associated with the organisation.
Although the image may appear touching at first glance, the centre stressed that it portrays a biologically impossible scenario. In reality, orangutans and clouded leopards would not interact in such a manner in the wild.
“Clouded leopards are natural predators, and any close encounter with an orangutan would be dangerous rather than affectionate,” the centre said in a statement.
DGFC further warned that the rise of AI-generated imagery could undermine the credibility of genuine conservation efforts, noting that field researchers often spend months collecting accurate data and observations.
Its director, Benoit Goossens, urged the public to verify information before sharing, reminding users that content which appears overly perfect or unrealistic is often not authentic.
He added that increased vigilance is crucial in preserving trust in legitimate wildlife research and conservation work.
