Fake Animal Rescue Videos
How to spot orchestrated animal rescues
Videos showing people saving animals are regularly posted on online platforms such as YouTube, Facebook Instagram and TikTok. It has been proven that fake rescue videos have joined the ranks of these real rescues. These alleged animal rescues are a scam to generate donations and make money. The sad thing about it is that animals (specifically kittens, puppies and young monkeys, but also endangered species such as long-tailed macaques) have been known to be deliberately and intentionally exposed to dangerous and (life-)threatening situations as well as enormous stress and injuries to be 'rescued' by people posing as animal rescue groups or animal activists. The following outlines how these videos are produced to help you spot the videos and report them.
The method behind it
A kitten or puppy is shown in a dire situation. For example, a kitten sinks into the deep mud, a puppy is attacked by a snake, other animals are dumped in rubbish bins and the like. A "human hero rescuer" saves the poor creature after it had to fight for a while to save itself from its situation. Their supposed heroic intervention is recorded on video and later shared online, usually accompanied by dramatic music. The video gets a lot of clicks because people enjoy seeing rescues. What they do not know is that the scene was created artificially: the kitten was put into the deep mud by the “rescuer”, the puppy was deliberately exposed to a snake, and other (most cute) animals thrown into the rubbish bin, all done in order so that they can be “rescued”. These deceitful videos only have one aim to falsely generate (a lot of) donations.
What makes the situation even worse, is that in some instances some animals are injured to create more impact, emotion and urgency to help generate more donations. For the animals involved, the situation is associated with severe psychological suffering, physical pain and (internal) injuries and in some cases even death.
The dangerous game with empathy
The creators of such videos exploit the emotions of animal lovers. They deceive people with the videos and get them to become subscribers/donors so that they can deceitfully get money. At the same time, social media operators benefit from the videos. The procedures of dubious operators make it very difficult for serious animal welfare organisations and animal welfarists to share their rightly credible and true genuine animal rescue videos and to show their important animal welfare work on the different platforms. Platforms that collect and showcase animal rescue videos are also in a difficult position in terms of how to distinguish between genuine and fake videos.
Think before you share
Before liking and sharing a video, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the source trustworthy? Check whether the video comes from a reputable animal welfare organisation or another verifiable source.
- Does the scene look staged? Are the rescuer and filmmaker the only people present? If so, why isn't the filmmaker helping? Does the rescuer show genuine concern, or simply perform a "job"?
- Is the encounter plausible? Consider whether the predator, prey, time of day and circumstances make sense. For example, would a crepuscular/nocturnal python realistically attack that animal during daylight?
- Have you seen the animal before? The same animals may be repeatedly used in staged "rescue" videos.
- Was the animal already injured? Pre-existing injuries can indicate that an animal has been deliberately used in repeated staged scenarios.
- Can the bird of prey fly? If it does not fly away when startled, its wings may have been clipped, and it may be captive.
- Does the habitat fit the species? Ask whether the landscape is appropriate. For example, would a green anaconda, which spends much of its time in water and dense vegetation, realistically attack an animal in a dry, open landscape?
- Do you recognise the location? The same locations may be used repeatedly with different animals.
- Is the animal's behaviour natural? An animal that remains unusually calm in a frightening situation may have been drugged or otherwise subdued.
- Are there dramatic camera angles or music? Multiple camera angles and dramatic music can suggest that the scene was planned and staged.
- Does the "rescuer" appear repeatedly? Check other videos. Is the same person repeatedly presented as a rescuer in similar situations?
- Is the animal filmed in distress for too long? Genuine rescuers should prioritise the animal's safety rather than prolonging the filming.
- What happens after the rescue? Does the animal receive proper care or veterinary treatment, or does the video simply end after the "rescue"?
- How did the rescuers get there at exactly the right time? Genuine rescues usually follow a report or are planned in advance. A supposedly spontaneous event that is professionally filmed deserves scrutiny.
- Does the rescuer claim to represent an organisation? Research the organisation and check whether the person is genuinely affiliated with it.
- How do they respond to criticism? Read the comments. Are authenticity concerns addressed convincingly? Has the comment section been disabled?
Report any violation
The tips given above are intended to help you become more conscious and critical when viewing animal rescue videos before you decide to share them. If you suspect a video is dubious and violates animal welfare, report it to the platform provider and ask them to remove it. Spread the word and educate other people about fake rescue videos online to reduce animal suffering and people being deceived into giving donations. Genuine rescue groups will be happy to answer your questions and give follow up information on the animal rescued.
Disclaimer: All our guides are based on scientifically grounded research, current studies, and the expertise of FOUR PAWS experts. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with our experts, please contact us at research.info@four-paws.org.
