AI-generated images of a leopard roaming Pniel are spreading fast. Don’t share them, share this instead.
Western Cape, South Africa (12 March 2026) – If you’ve seen images on social media of a leopard roaming the streets of Pniel, stop before you share them. The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) has confirmed they’re completely fabricated.
“These two images of a leopard reportedly roaming the streets of Pniel are going viral. They are not real, they’re AI generated pictures. Also currently in circulation is a video clip of a leopard on the slopes of Simonsberg. This clip is indeed real, and it is probably this video that prompted someone to generate images appearing to show this leopard walking through Pniel nearby. Please do not share the photos as they are sowing panic and misinformation about leopard behaviour that can be incredibly harmful to these elusive animals’ wellbeing.” the CLT shares.
The NGO protects leopards and their landscapes across the Western Cape. It works to foster coexistence between humans and wildlife through research, conservation and education.
When misinformation spreads, and communities are panicked into believing a leopard is in their streets, that work can unravel. In the worst cases, frightened communities have historically responded to wildlife with poison or worse. This is precisely why the CLT is asking people NOT to share those images.
This isn’t new territory for us. We’ve tackled the topic of AI-generated content, and the ‘slop’ that has increasingly clogged everyone’s feeds. Fake stories designed to strike a chord and make you share, indirectly lining a scammer’s pockets.
What’s different here is that there’s likely no cynical monetisation behind it. Someone probably saw the real video, imagined a more dramatic version of events, generated two convincing images, and hit post. They possibly had no awareness of the harm. But harm all the same, because once images like that go viral, they travel far faster than any correction.
As AI tools become more capable and more accessible, the gap between real and fabricated keeps narrowing. The responsibility falls on all of us to pause before we amplify.
Don’t share the images. Share this instead.
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