Is It True That Real Mermaids Have Been Discovered in the Ocean?

Videos and photographs claiming to show real mermaids continue to circulate on social media. Some posts allegedly show a mermaid washed ashore in Thailand, while others depict a mysterious creature swimming near the coast of Greece. These images are often shared with sensational headlines suggesting that scientists have discovered evidence of mythical sea creatures.

But do these videos really prove that mermaids exist? What is the truth behind the famous Animal Planet television programme and the so-called “Feejee Mermaid”? A closer look at the available evidence reveals why such claims should be treated with caution.

Videos from Thailand and Greece: Images Are Not Proof

Social media users occasionally share videos allegedly showing a mermaid appearing on a beach in Thailand or a mysterious creature swimming near the Greek coastline. Some posts claim that local residents witnessed the events or that scientists have confirmed the discoveries.

However, a video alone cannot establish that an extraordinary event has taken place. Fact-checking requires identifying the original source, determining when and where the footage was recorded, and examining whether reliable news organisations or relevant experts have independently verified the claims.

Images resembling mermaids may depict artificial models, people wearing costumes, marine animals misidentified by viewers, or footage created or modified using computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Nevertheless, the specific original sources of the videos allegedly recorded in Thailand and Greece have not been established here. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to categorically label each video as fake without examining the individual footage and its context.

The same approach applies to videos from Australia that allegedly show a mermaid-like creature swimming behind a surfer. Shadows, waves, marine animals and visual distortions can sometimes be misinterpreted as something unusual. Without the original footage and supporting evidence, such images cannot be presented as proof of a scientific discovery.

Was the Animal Planet Programme a Real Scientific Discovery?

One of the projects that contributed to the spread of modern mermaid stories was Mermaids: The New Evidence, broadcast by Animal Planet in 2013.

The programme featured footage, interviews and purported scientific evidence presented in a way that suggested mermaids might actually exist. However, it was a fictional, mockumentary-style production rather than a genuine scientific documentary.

The programme used staged material and actors to create the impression of a real investigation. Its content should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that mermaids have been discovered.

An ABC News report published in 2013 also discussed the programme as a mockumentary. The fact that the show was broadcast on a well-known television channel does not make its claims scientifically valid.

This case illustrates an important principle of fact-checking: professionally produced footage, a well-known broadcaster and scientific-sounding explanations do not automatically make a claim true.

The “Feejee Mermaid”: A Famous Historical Hoax

Another example frequently associated with claims about mermaids is the so-called “Feejee Mermaid”, also known as the “Fiji Mermaid”.

Historically, mermaid-like objects were displayed at exhibitions and public shows to attract attention and entertain audiences. Some of these objects were artificial constructions made by combining parts of fish with the remains of small primates or other animals.

Although they were designed to resemble strange, half-human, half-fish creatures, these exhibits were not the remains of real mermaids.

Historical accounts document the use of such fabricated specimens to attract audiences and generate commercial interest. Even today, old photographs and museum exhibits can be taken out of context and shared online under misleading headlines such as “A real mermaid has been discovered”.

The existence of an unusual-looking object does not establish that it belonged to a real biological species. Its origin, composition and examination by specialists are essential to understanding what it actually is.

Are Scientists Hiding Mermaids at the Bottom of the Ocean?

Another claim circulating online suggests that mermaids have already been discovered but that governments or scientists are concealing the information from the public.

Such claims often lack verifiable documents, peer-reviewed scientific research or independent confirmation.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states in its information about mermaids that no evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.

This does not mean that every marine organism has been discovered or that the oceans are fully explored. Scientists continue to study marine ecosystems and identify previously unknown species. However, the possibility that unknown organisms exist does not automatically support the specific claim that mermaids are real.

The frequently repeated statement that much of the ocean remains unexplored is not evidence of mermaids either. Scientific claims require verifiable evidence, such as biological specimens, reliable observations, expert examination and results that can be independently assessed.

If a previously unknown large marine animal were discovered, its existence would need to be supported by scientific investigation and credible evidence, rather than by a social media video alone.

How Can Such Videos Be Fact-Checked?

Several steps can help determine whether a viral video is reliable.

First, identify the original source. A video may have been reposted many times, with each new post adding a different description. Finding the earliest available version can help establish its original context.

Second, conduct a reverse image search. Individual frames from a video can be searched online to determine whether the images appeared earlier in another context. This may reveal whether the footage comes from a film, an entertainment project, a staged performance or an older viral post.

Third, verify the alleged expert statements. Claims such as “scientists have confirmed the discovery” or “the government is hiding the truth” should be supported by identifiable sources. Vague references to unnamed experts are not sufficient evidence.

Fourth, compare the claim with reliable sources. Scientific institutions, established news organisations and relevant specialists can help establish whether a discovery has been independently documented.

Finally, it is important to distinguish between the authenticity of a video and the accuracy of the claim attached to it. A video may contain genuine footage while its accompanying caption misidentifies what is shown. Both the images and the claims made about them must be examined separately.

Conclusion

Claims that real mermaids have been discovered in the oceans and seas have not been supported by reliable scientific evidence. The 2013 Animal Planet programme Mermaids: The New Evidence was a fictional mockumentary-style production, while historical examples such as the “Feejee Mermaid” demonstrate that artificial specimens have been created to resemble mythical creatures.

Videos allegedly recorded in Thailand, Greece and Australia should not all be assigned the same verdict without identifying their original sources and examining the full context. Each video requires a separate investigation.

Fact-check verdict: The claim that “real mermaids have been discovered in the ocean” is unsubstantiated.