A zoo in eastern China has rejected claims that its bears are actually people disguised in costumes, following the circulation of a viral video showing a Malayan sun bear standing on its hind legs. The Hangzhou Zoo in Zhejiang province clarified that the bear, named Angela, is indeed a genuine sun bear, which is a smaller and distinct species compared to the more familiar bears.
The video sparked a frenzy on Chinese social media platforms, with users speculating whether the bear’s behavior and fur folds resembled a human in disguise. However, wildlife experts, including Wong Siew Te, a renowned wildlife biologist, confirmed that the animal in the video is undoubtedly a sun bear. Sun bears are known for their human-like abilities, such as standing and walking on their hind legs, and even carrying their young with their hands.
Despite expert opinions and the zoo’s denial of any costume involvement, the speculation persisted. Nevertheless, the zoo employee emphasized in an audio recording that humans would not be able to withstand the high temperatures in the area while wearing a fur suit for more than a few minutes.
Sun bears are the smallest bear species, reaching a height of up to 1.3 meters (51 inches) on their hind legs. Sadly, their population has decreased significantly in the past three decades, with over 30% decline. These bears are classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list due to factors like large-scale deforestation and hunting.
Overall, this incident has raised awareness of sun bears’ appearance and vulnerability, shedding light on the need for conservation efforts to protect these unique and endangered creatures. It is worth noting that other zoos in China have previously faced criticism for attempting to pass off dogs as wolves by dyeing their fur.
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