AI-generated Wildlife Videos Confuse the Public and Threaten Conservation, Cordoba Study Finds

Researchers from the University of Córdoba report that highly realistic AI-generated wildlife videos circulating on social media create misperceptions about wild animals, fuel humanization of wildlife, and undermine conservation. By examining viral clips of leopards in backyards, bears or deer on trampolines, and other surreal scenes, the study highlights how false portrayals can distort knowledge of species, habitats, and natural behaviors. The authors warn that such content can disconnect people from real ecosystems, elevate interest in exotic pets, and erode trust in science. They propose media literacy, better verification of information, and integration of environmental knowledge into school curricula as mitigation. The paper, “Threats to conservation from artificial-intelligence-generated wildlife images and videos,” appears in Conservation Biology and is authored by the GESBIO group at the University of Córdoba (José Guerrero-Casado, Francisco Sánchez, Antonio Carpio, Rocío Serrano, Tamara Murillo).

Overview

AI-generated wildlife images and videos are circulating widely on social media, boasting high realism that makes them easily mistaken for real events. A team from the GESBIO group at the University of Córdoba, including José Guerrero-Casado, Francisco Sánchez, Antonio Carpio, Rocío Serrano, and Tamara Murillo, analyzes the consequences of these clips for public knowledge and biodiversity conservation. Their work, published in Conservation Biology, documents multiple viral videos in which predators and prey appear to interact in unlikely scenarios—such as a leopard entering a child’s backyard and a cat confronting the predator, or bears and deer leaping on a trampoline—crafted entirely by artificial intelligence. The authors note that these videos, though entertaining, risk shaping a skewed and anthropomorphized view of wildlife.

The study emphasizes three core problems: misperceptions about what wild animals can do or where they live, attribution of human-like motivations and behaviors to animals, and a widening disconnect between society and the natural world. As Guerrero-Casado explains, such content can imply realities that are not possible in nature, potentially undermining conservation messaging for species that are actually rare or threatened. Serrano adds that these distortions are particularly impactful for primary school children, who form the basis of long-term attitudes toward wildlife.

Impact on public perception and conservation

The researchers identify a cascade effect: sensational AI-generated scenes create false expectations about wildlife, which in turn reshapes how people think about and value natural habitats. Scenes of predators and prey playing together, or charismatic animals behaving sociably, replace the nuanced understanding of ecological roles and predator–prey dynamics. This misrepresentation can reduce the perceived need to protect real habitats or to follow science-based conservation guidance. The article stresses that distorted imagery can also inflate perceived abundance of vulnerable species, which may dampen urgency for conservation action in the public imagination and policy debates.

Murillo highlights a second consequence: a rising interest in exotic species as pets, driven by the fantasy of approachable wildlife. Exposure to AI-generated content portraying sociable wild animals can fuel demand for animals that are unsuitable for home life, potentially fueling illegal trade and welfare concerns. The paper argues that these trends threaten biodiversity by shifting public priorities away from protecting wild populations.

Effects on children and education

A striking finding is the effect on children’s connection to nature. Serrano notes a “total disconnect” between citizens and wildlife, which is especially pronounced among young learners. Since childhood learning is image-driven, persistent exposure to AI-constructed wildlife fantasies can give children a distorted map of local fauna, habitats, and ecological relationships. The authors warn that this distorted mental model makes it harder for youth to recognize native species, understand ecological principles, or relate to real-world conservation issues when they encounter wildlife in the countryside. The research calls for educational reforms to counter these effects and to sustain authentic experiences with nature.

Proposed mitigation strategies

The Córdoba team offers several remedies to curb the negative impact of AI-generated wildlife imagery. First, they advocate media literacy programs that teach critical evaluation of online content and encourage users to verify information through trusted sources. Second, they propose integrating environmental knowledge into school curricula—clarifying what qualifies as native wildlife, what counts as an exotic species, and why certain wildlife interactions in the real world are unlikely. These measures aim to build a foundation of scientific literacy that can resist sensational but false wildlife portrayals. Finally, the researchers call for ongoing research into how AI-generated content influences biodiversity conservation, to guide future policy and educational interventions.

Conservation implications and future research

The study concludes that AI-generated wildlife images and videos pose measurable threats to conservation by shaping misperceptions, undermining scientific understanding, and altering public expectations about wildlife. By highlighting these risks, the authors urge researchers, educators, and policymakers to collaborate on solutions that preserve trust in science while leveraging AI tools to improve public understanding of biodiversity. They emphasize the need for robust evidence to quantify the impacts and to refine interventions at schools, media platforms, and community programs. The paper, titled Threats to conservation from artificial‑intelligence-generated wildlife images and videos, outlines a clear research agenda for the emerging field of AI’s influence on biodiversity and conservation.

More information: José Guerrero-Casado et al, Threats to conservation from artificial‑intelligence-generated wildlife images and videos, Conservation Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70138