Ángel Hidalgo makes the first sighting of a white Iberian lynx ever, but people don’t believe him.
Spanish photographer Ángel Hidalgo captured a rare sighting of a white Iberian lynx, which marks the first time a human sees one in the wild.
The video, showing the ghostly lynx moving gracefully through its natural habitat, quickly went viral on social media. Many viewers were astonished by the footage, while others expressed skepticism, accusing it of being AI-generated rather than real.
The Encounter
The photographer himself shared a photo and explained in the post’s caption how he discovered the lynx. He calls the animal "the white ghost of the Mediterranean forest."
As someone who mainly captures images of wildlife, he had installed several camera traps around a new area and then saw something he couldn’t believe. From that moment, he knew he had to witness the animal with his own eyes.
He waited patiently for months without spotting the lynx again, until one day a white creature appeared before him. The photographer described feeling immense joy at being able to see this rare animal in its natural habitat. He captured both a photo and a video, which he later posted online.
In his post, he shared that he hopes to inspire people to “appreciate and protect the natural beauty of the world around us.” Out of respect for the lynx and to ensure its safety, he chose not to reveal the exact location where the encounter took place.
People Are In Disbelief
However, not everyone on the internet believes that this lynx is real. Some people even call it a sign from Mother Nature, a ghost that isn’t truly there. Many skeptics point to the animal’s appearance, claiming that its eyes look "too human" to belong to a real animal. Comments such as "That thing has a human living inside of it" and "That is not from this planet" quickly spread online.
Others go a step further, suggesting that the photo might be AI-generated and questioning the photographer’s credibility. Critics also find it suspicious that he does not have more footage of the lynx.
"And this is the only footage you have of the legendary mythical animal?"
"Why you ain’t catch him walking away?"
Haters Are Loud
While many people question whether the photos of the white lynx are real, AI-generated, or even a “ghost sent from Mother Nature,” there are also countless others who deeply appreciate the photographer’s work.
"Wow, so beautiful."
"Congratulations!! How wonderful! Hopefully it will never be found by someone else."
This viral lynx story reveals how suspicious people have become of what they see on social media, especially when artificial intelligence is involved. They don't trust anybody and accuse someone without any proof.
At the same time, it shows that awareness of AI is growing and that people are becoming more cautious, no longer believing everything they encounter on the internet.
But how can we find a balance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!