Photo published in https://autourdelile.com in 2012

Mysuru: A photo of a rare Black Fox, claimed to have been clicked by Kiran Kollegal and Naveen in an agricultural field between Madugunda in Kollegal and Vaddugere in Biligiri Rangana Betta (BR Hills) and has gone viral on social media platforms, is said to be fake.

Photographer Kiran Kollegal, speaking to Star of Mysore this morning said that he found the photo while searching on Google and sent the picture to his friend in Chamarajanagar just to know whether such a Black Fox existed or not. “I have not clicked this photo,” he clarified.

A news item with the same photo of the Black Fox was published on June 27, 2012 in https://autourdelile.com/2012/06/un-renard-noir-apercu-a-lile/ with a headline ‘A black fox spotted on the island.’

Meanwhile, Chamarajanagar CCF Dr. Malathi Priya told SOM that the viral photo of the Black Fox had come to her notice and has instructed the DCF to find its genuinity.

She further said that if the photo is fake, a notice will be issued to the person, who had uploaded the same on social media and added that legal action too will be initiated against those spreading                  false information.