13/11/2024
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13/11/2024
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A video shared on social media claims to show "the biggest turtle in the world" slowly moving along a beach.
The video in question genuinely shows a leatherback turtle, the largest known turtle species in the world. However, it was filmed using a low-angle shot, which made the turtle appear larger than its true size—a photographic technique called forced perspective. This is a visual trick that distorts the scale of objects in a way that alters their perceived size.
The authenticity of the video was confirmed, with no signs of artificial intelligence (AI) generation or deepfake manipulation. Hive Moderation, a tool for detecting AI-generated content, confirmed that there was an almost zero chance the footage was artificially created. Therefore, while the claim that the turtle shown in the video is the largest species is true, the perceived size was artificially amplified through the camera angle. The video was captured on Macao Beach, Dominican Republic.
About Leatherback Sea Turtles
Leatherback sea turtles, the largest living species of sea turtle, can grow to over 6 feet in length and weigh more than 2,000 pounds. This remarkable size is all the more impressive given that their primary diet consists of soft-bodied marine animals, such as jellyfish. According to the National Park Service and the National Ocean Service, leatherbacks are unique in their ability to thrive on this diet, despite the challenges it presents.
