A fake Instagram video purporting to capture a strange animal in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has been debunked. The 10-second clip, which has garnered more than 1.6 million views, features a four-legged black animal with a bushy tail and a snout resembling that of a hyena. But a fact-check finds that the video is AI-generated and that the whole narrative is fabricated.
The Claim: A Hidden Monster in the Amazon
The clip was shared by a page called “CuteStrawberryMilk” and has now come to be known as the sighting of the so-called “Shadow Beast of the Amazon.” The accompanying caption is akin to a scientist’s field report,
“On March 8, 2025, a remote wildlife monitoring camera set up by the Brazilian National Institute of Ecology (BNIE) captured a strange quadrupedal mammal in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest. The video, taken during a routine biodiversity survey, shows a large, dark-coated animal moving slowly through the dense jungle.”
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The post implies the animal shares characteristics with a capybara or lowland tapir but presents “striking anomalies.” It points out that the animal has a very elongated body, a stout tail, an unusual gait, and non-shiny eyes, which is rare for nocturnal mammals. It further argues that BNIE experts could not find a comparable animal in any existing animal database.
Debunking the Myth: A Nonexistent Institute and AI Artifacts
In spite of the elaborate caption, there is no Brazilian National Institute of Ecology. A quick internet search reveals no government institution by that name. All leads are back to reposts of the same Instagram clip.
Visual inspection of the video shows giveaway marks of AI creation. The monster’s tail flexes and travels in unnatural patterns, and its body flashes slightly. Its eyes do not have the reflective sheen that one would normally find in actual nighttime video. These flaws indicate that the monster was computer-created rather than captured by an actual camera trap.
Experts also identify inconsistencies between the animal and actual Amazon fauna. Comparisons with capybaras, tapirs, and melanistic jaguars are insufficient, as these animals lack the bizarre features or movements exhibited in the video. No reputable scientist or research center has confirmed the sighting.
Social Media Speculation vs. Scientific Reality
The viral post has been causing wild speculation and theories, ranging from some users saying it is a newly found species or a prehistoric remnant. None of the original poster’s indications suggest that the video is authentic. No peer-reviewed articles, reputable institutions, or wildlife experts have authenticated the clip as real.
The Verdict: Not a Beast, Just an AI Creation
The alleged “Shadow Beast of the Amazon” is no new creature or extinct mammal. It is a cyber hoax created by a computer program that benefits from the fascination and curiosity of the times. The article cleverly mimics scientific terminology, but close inspection finds that it is completely fictional.
The current case points to the need to check facts from viral material before assuming something to be true. As AI technologies advance, identifying fakes—particularly those presented as scientific breakthroughs—calls for critical thinking and rudimentary fact-checking.
In short, the cryptic creature in the viral video does not exist. The video is AI-generated content intended to generate buzz, not record reality.
