A Sudden Wave of Panic Grips the Community (Image Credits: Imgs.mongabay.com)
Rangeli municipality, eastern Nepal – Social media images purporting to show spotted hyenas crossing from India triggered alarm on November 8, 2025.[1][2]
A Sudden Wave of Panic Grips the Community
Residents in Rangeli’s Ward No. 6 and nearby areas reported sightings late that Saturday night. Photos circulated widely online depicted what looked like a group of the animals on a roadside near the border. National media outlets amplified the story, heightening fears among locals already wary from earlier leopard rumors.
Mahand Mandal, chairperson of Ward No. 5, claimed direct observation of the hyenas. The rapid spread prompted urgent calls for action. Families kept children indoors while discussions flooded social platforms. This incident exposed vulnerabilities in how unverified claims gain traction.[2]
Officials Respond but Uncover a False Trail
The Division Forest Office in Morang dispatched a rescue team immediately after the reports surfaced. They coordinated with the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve for support and questioned the initial reporter. A police unit from the Rangeli Area Police Office joined the search efforts.
No animals matching the description appeared. District forest officer Utsav Thapa confirmed the outcome: “No one could confirm the sighting, and we later found the information to be false.” Authorities urged calm and warned against sharing unverified details. The episode wasted resources better directed elsewhere.[1][2]
Why These Hyenas Could Never Roam Nepal
Spotted hyenas, or Crocuta crocuta, inhabit sub-Saharan Africa, not South Asia. The viral images originated from that continent, mismatched with Nepal’s ecosystems. Conservation researcher Gobinda Pokharel noted how such errors persist: “When it comes to wildlife, even many mainstream media publish unverified reports that help spread false information.”
These mix-ups foster unfounded fears and skew public views on local fauna. Nepal hosts rarer striped hyenas in pockets, but none resembled the claimed invaders. AI tools now generate convincing fakes, like a recent fabricated tiger photo, complicating verification further.[1]
Nepal’s Broader Struggle with Digital Deception
Smartphone ownership reached 73% of households by 2021, with internet access climbing to 38%. A 2021 survey revealed nine in 10 social media users encountered misinformation, mainly on Facebook. The Press Council Nepal logged over 130 complaints on false content in the prior five months.
| Household Metric | 2011 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Ownership | 65% (mobile phones) | 73% |
| Internet Access | 3% | 38% |
Recent Gen Z protests amplified falsehoods, from misattributed videos to inflated casualty figures. Cyber laws target crimes but overlook non-criminal hoaxes. Spokesperson Deepak Khanal emphasized stronger monitoring: “Taking the increasing number of complaints into account, we are trying to strengthen local and national media monitoring.”[1]
Experts advocate digital literacy over bans. Ajay Bhadra Khanal, interim government adviser, argued for education-based solutions. Ujjwal Acharya called for fact-checking investments.
Key Takeaways
- Misinformation spreads fastest on social media, distorting wildlife perceptions and conservation efforts.
- Official responses to hoaxes divert resources from real threats.
- Digital literacy and media training offer sustainable fixes amid rising connectivity.
This hyena episode serves as a stark reminder: unchecked online claims erode trust and hinder environmental progress. As Nepal’s digital landscape evolves, balancing free speech with accuracy grows essential. What steps should communities take next? Share your views in the comments.