NT Verdict
Verified Real
Mumbai mangrove restoration timelapse is genuine — 3 years of community-led replanting
Original post on Instagram
GreenIndiaMove
Instagram · Reel
Instagram Reel
4.4M views
GreenIndiaMove Mumbai locals restored a destroyed mangrove belt in just 6 months — timelapse shows remarkable recov…
Apr 15, 2026
The Claim Being Checked
“Mumbai locals restored a destroyed mangrove belt in just 6 months — timelapse shows remarkable recovery”
What NT Found
The viral timelapse shows the Dahisar creek mangrove belt in Mumbai, which was damaged by an illegal construction project in 2022. A community group called Mangrove Foundation Mumbai began replanting in early 2023. The Maharashtra Mangrove Cell confirmed the 3-year recovery timeline shown in the reel, correcting the viral caption which said '6 months'.
NT Verdict
Verified Real
Maharashtra Mangrove Cell and Forest Department confirmed the site and restoration timeline.
How We Verified This
Step 1 — Detection
Content flagged after crossing 4.4M views on Instagram on Apr 15, 2026. NT's monitoring system triggered a verification queue entry. Assigned to Meera Nair, Environment Desk.
Evidence 1
Maharashtra Mangrove Cell GPS confirmed the site is at Dahisar Creek (19.2572°N, 72.8416°E)
Evidence 2
Satellite imagery from ISRO Bhuvan platform shows progressive mangrove coverage from 2022-2026
Evidence 3
Mangrove Foundation Mumbai provided project timeline and volunteer logs starting January 2023
Evidence 4
Forest Department ecological survey confirmed 94% survival rate of replanted seedlings
Final Verdict
Verified Real — Maharashtra Mangrove Cell and Forest Department confirmed the site and restoration timeline.
Sources Consulted
3 sourcesMaharashtra Mangrove Cell
official
ISRO Bhuvan satellite imagery
database
Mangrove Foundation Mumbai
expert
How we verified this: NT's fact-checkers use reverse image/video search, EXIF metadata analysis, official records, direct source outreach, and where relevant, AI-detection tools. All verdicts undergo two-editor review before publication. Corrections published within 24 hours. Read our full methodology →
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