Are Baby Dinosaurs Being Sold in Kyrgyzstan?
A video claiming that live baby dinosaurs are being sold in Kyrgyzstan has circulated on social media. It shows small, black creatures resembling ancient reptiles eating grain inside a cage. The person behind the video claims that they are available at a wholesale price of 5,000 Kyrgyz soms each, with delivery available to all regions.
The footage may surprise viewers. However, scientific evidence indicates that non-avian dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago, and there is no confirmed technology capable of bringing them back to life. A fact-check analysis shows that the claim lacks a scientific basis. However, since the original source of the video has not been identified, it is not possible to determine conclusively how it was created.
What Does the Video Claim?
A short video circulating on social media shows several creatures gathered around a container of food. Their appearance resembles that of certain herbivorous dinosaurs, such as stegosaurs. The person behind the camera picks one of them up and says in Kyrgyz that they are available for purchase.
The video contains the following statement:
“Friends, baby dinosaurs are now available for sale. They are very beautiful. The wholesale price is 5,000 soms each, and delivery is available to all regions.”
The video also displays the text: “Динозаврдын балдары сатууга чыкты — 5000 сом оптом” (“Baby dinosaurs are up for sale — 5,000 soms wholesale”).
The footage therefore gives viewers the impression that these unusual creatures not only exist but can also be purchased. However, the audio, text and stated price do not establish that the advertisement is genuine. Verifying the claim requires identifying the video's original source, its creator and the actual identity of the creatures.
Have Dinosaurs Really Survived?
According to paleontological research, non-avian dinosaurs became extinct approximately 66 million years ago, during a mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous Period. This event was one of the largest biological crises in Earth's history and affected numerous groups of animals and plants.
However, it would be inaccurate to say that all dinosaurs have disappeared entirely. According to modern scientific classification, birds are the living descendants of dinosaurs. This does not mean, however, that stegosaurs or other non-avian dinosaurs are still alive today.
Scientists currently study ancient life forms using fossil remains, bones, fossilized tracks and other paleontological evidence. There is no scientifically validated technology that enables extinct dinosaurs to be brought back to life or cloned.
Therefore, there is no scientific basis for identifying the creatures shown in the social media video as living baby dinosaurs.
Were the Creatures in the Video Created Using Computer Graphics?
Today, computer graphics, three-dimensional modelling and artificial intelligence tools can be used to create realistic-looking videos. Such footage may depict fictional creatures in ordinary rooms, yards or animal enclosures. As a result, viewers may be more likely to mistake what they see on screen for something real.
The unusual appearance of the creatures in the circulating video and their resemblance to dinosaurs may suggest that the footage is artificially generated. However, these characteristics alone are insufficient to determine whether the video was created using CGI, artificial intelligence or another technique.
Several factors can help assess the authenticity of the footage:
Movement: Do the creatures move, turn their heads, eat and perform other actions naturally?
Lighting and shadows: Are the lighting and shadows on their bodies consistent with the surrounding objects and overall illumination?
Physical interaction: Do food and other objects move naturally when the creatures touch them?
Image quality: Are there any inconsistencies between the edges of the creatures, their body parts and the background that might indicate editing or artificial imagery?
Original source: Which account first published the video, and when? Has the creator explained where the footage was filmed?
These indicators can help with an initial assessment of the video. However, they are not sufficient on their own to reach a definitive conclusion. A reliable assessment would require examining the original video in high resolution, tracing earlier uploads and, if necessary, analysing individual frames.
Why Do Such Videos Go Viral?
Unusual, astonishing or humorous images can quickly attract attention online. Videos featuring creatures or events that people rarely encounter in everyday life are particularly likely to encourage users to share them with others.
Some creators produce such content for entertainment. Others may seek to increase their view counts or attract audiences to their pages. In some cases, realistic-sounding audio, local languages or fake sales advertisements are added to artificial imagery. As a result, a video created as a joke may be mistaken for genuine news.
Nevertheless, there is no evidence confirming that the creator of this particular video intended to make a joke or increase view counts. It would therefore also be inaccurate to classify the footage as satire without further verification.
What Does the Advertisement Offering Them for 5,000 Soms Mean?
The stated price and promise of delivery to all regions make the video resemble a genuine sales offer. However, claims about prices, sales conditions or delivery services do not prove that the creatures actually exist.
In this situation, it is important to answer the following questions:
Who published the advertisement?
Did the seller provide an address or contact information?
Was the video previously published in another country or by another account?
Is there independent evidence confirming that the creatures are real animals?
Is the advertisement part of an actual sales offer, or is the video simply entertainment content?
Until these questions are answered, the sales offer shown in the video should not be considered reliable. Users should verify the seller's credibility before transferring money or sharing personal information in response to such advertisements.
How Can Such Videos Be Verified?
When encountering unusual footage on social media, users can carry out several simple checks instead of immediately sharing it as genuine news.
First, try to find the video's original source. Screenshots taken from the footage can be searched using reverse image search tools. This may help establish whether the images appeared earlier on other pages or circulated with different captions.
Second, compare the claim with reliable scientific sources. Information about dinosaur extinction, their evolution and their relationship with modern birds can be checked against materials published by paleontological and scientific institutions.
Third, assess the audio and text separately from the images. Authentic footage can be accompanied by a false explanation, while artificially generated imagery may be paired with audio intended to present it as a real event.
Finally, avoid sharing videos with unidentified sources as reliable evidence. The fact that a video has been widely shared or received numerous comments does not mean that it is authentic.
Verdict: UNVERIFIED
There is no reliable evidence supporting the claim that live baby dinosaurs are being sold in Kyrgyzstan for 5,000 soms each. According to scientific evidence, non-avian dinosaurs became extinct approximately 66 million years ago, and there is no scientifically validated technology for bringing them back to life.
The actual identity of the creatures shown in the video, where the footage was created, and whether computer graphics or another technique was used remain undetermined until the original source is identified.
When evaluating unusual videos, users should rely not merely on what they see, but also on the source of the footage, scientific evidence and independent verification.
