An unusual, almost surreal yet heartwarming video is going viral on social media, showing a rare bond between an elderly man and a group of rats. While
the clip appears almost too unreal to be true, many users online are convinced it is genuine. The video has left the internet divided, with viewers debating whether it is real or AI-generated. The video was shared on Instagram by a user identified as (@coach.sue3). In the clip, an elderly man can be seen feeding and interacting with rats. As he calls out to them, the rats appear to respond instantly, emerging from a small burrow to gather around him. At one point, the man is heard saying, “Idhar aa (come here),” and the rats seem to follow his command, gathering around as he feeds them. The video was captioned, “Such a cute bond.” Based on the hashtags used, the clip appears to be from Mumbai. It has since gone massively viral, garnering over 45 million views, more than 1 million likes, and over 7,000 comments.
The video has sparked a wide range of reactions online. While many users found the clip “cute” and “endearing,” others questioned how the rats appeared to respond to human commands, with some dismissing the video as AI-generated.
One user wrote, “They are actually listening to him—how?” Another commented, “This is so sweet to watch. It feels like God has sent someone to care for these rats.” A third user said, “This looks very much AI-generated.” Another added, “Every animal deserves love, food, and compassion.” One user also wrote, “Men are brave, men are kind, and full of emotions.”
One comment stood out for its poetic tone, “Log insaano mein Bhagwan dhoondte hi reh gaye, Aur kisi ko be-zubaan ki aankhon mein poori kayinaat mil gayi.” (People kept searching for God in humans, while some found the entire universe in the eyes of voiceless beings.)
However, not everyone was convinced or supportive. One user critically noted, “Feeding puppies or cats is fine, but feeding rats is not. Look at their size, they are not deprived of food. They are a major problem for shops and godowns. Every year, goods worth lakhs of crores are damaged because of them, especially during the lockdown.”
The debate over the video continues to dominate social media, with users split between calling it heartwarming, unrealistic, or potentially AI-generated.
