A video of a golden eagle snatching a child in Canada that has gone viral online was an elaborate hoax aimed at testing the skills of the clipmakers.

The video shows the bird briefly lifting the child in a Montreal park before dropping him unharmed.

Nearly 17 million people have watched the video on YouTube in three days.

But a digital training centre in Montreal later told the BBC that the clip was made by its students as part of a degree course.

Suzanne Guevremont, director of the Centre NAD, said the clip had been produced by four students who "had an idea of making something believable".

The students - who were doing a degree in 3D animation and digital design - had come up with the idea after a brainstorming session, completing the project in seven weeks, she said.

"It's a challenge... they wanted to test their skills," Ms Guevremont said.

She added that the bird and the child seen being snatched were all computer generated imagery (CGI), and the only real things in the video were the park, the boy (after being dropped on the ground) and his father comforting him.

The CGI was dropped into real footage to create the effect.

Some YouTube and Twitter users expressed doubts about the authenticity of the clip soon after it was posted online on 18 December.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20798561?

That's so messed up, had everyone thinking it was real It' so hard to believe a lot of things these days.

Impressive work though.

its gonna be very easy to deceive the whole world through project bluebeam....welcome to the mark of the beast

trolling: its gonna be very easy to deceive the whole world through project bluebeam....welcome to the mark of the beast

You're indeed "trolling"

Like I didn't know that before

Nice work.....

Whether you like it or not, the video is not a Hoax for me.... I dan already believe am, PERIOD

That's not funny, playing on one intelligence for the sake of project is highly uncalled for.

Mayara(n) effect.! Waiting to read another update on it. Sorry! The post dey confuse me. Thanks

So the thing was even fake sef

My Bros pin okoro till now oº°˚! Salys its real! Very very real
I guess u can't win all of them.

Saw this on ABC news last night

I didnt even comment on that topic yesterday... Thank God ooo

Now 21/12/2012,stl alive! Aye pare ti.lolx

All being said, never doubt the abilities of these raptors! Golden, harpy, martial, phillipine eagles and the lammergeir have all been credited with abilities to lift preys 4 times their weight especially the golden eagles known to kill wolves in the Chinese plains of Mongolia!

Yawns. Woke up to know wether the world has come to an end. Am I now in Heaven? No, still in Nigeria...
Tor! It's 21-12-2012 already.
But why is the world taking long to come to an end?
Don't mean to derail the thread

Big effing Duh!!!!!!

Gasps! I made my comment at exactly 12:12 on 12/21/2012.

What does this mean?!

2legit2qwt: That's so messed up, had everyone thinking it was real It' so hard to believe a lot of things these days.

Impressive work though.

I for one did not think it was hence I did not comment. People should think beyond the ordinary. I only wanted to ask how come the entire thing appeared so primed and stage managed that people could not see through it. Again, I am justified in thinking that a lotta people are dummies

Okiki_Oluwa: Yawns. Woke up to know wether the world has come to an end. Am I now in Heaven? No, still in Nigeria...
Tor! It's 21-12-2012 already.
But why is the world taking long to come to an end?
Don't mean to derail the thread

The Mayans are being misinterpreted and misquoted, simple

trolling: its gonna be very easy to deceive the whole world through project bluebeam....welcome to the mark of the beast

You are so correct.

Okiki_Oluwa: Yawns. Woke up to know wether the world has come to an end. Am I now in Heaven? No, still in Nigeria...
Tor! It's 21-12-2012 already.
But why is the world taking long to come to an end?
Don't mean to derail the thread

'But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.' (Matthew24:36)! Now that you have the answer, fear not and be not confused

Damn I still gotta get that degree

It's 12/21/2012. I wonder how the Chinese felt yesterday.

Hmnn...technologyyy

tomakint:
'But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.' (Matthew24:36)! Now that you have the answer, fear not and be not confused

you are welcome bro. I m not confused. I m just joking.

o.
never heard of it.

soon it will hard to admit video evidence in a law court since video editing is now a possibility

To think I fell for it.

Welcome to the Future.