China zoo bears real or humans in costume? Here's truth
What's the story
A bear standing like a human? No, we're not talking about your favorite movie star from the Korean movie Secret Zoo.
At China's Hangzhou Zoo, visitors were recently stunned to witness a bear standing like a human.
Is it a real bear or a cleverly disguised human?
Let's dive into the truth about these human-like standing bears in China that left the internet buzzing.
Viral video
Viral video got everyone talking
A recent video, originally shared by Douyin user "xiaotungtung" on Thursday (July 27), showed a slender black bear standing on a rock inside its enclosure.
The bear's fold of fur on its back, its skinny legs, and how it was standing got people thinking whether the bear was real or a man in disguise.
It earned a lot of attention and got everyone talking!
Twitter Post
Check out viral video here
A video of a "human-like" black #bear 🐻at #Hangzhou Zoo went viral! But the zoo staff denies it's a person in disguise—too hot to bear! #animal pic.twitter.com/47y9VzslYQ
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) July 31, 2023
Truth
But here's the truth
Sun bears, such as the one captured in the video, are real and are not humans in bear costumes!
On its social media account, Hangzhou Zoo has also clarified that sun bears from Malaysia may appear smaller and different from other bears, but they are indeed real.
The zoo highlighted that sun bears are "petite, the smallest bear in the world," reported BBC.
Quote
From perspective of sun bear, zoo posted this
"Some people think I stand like a person... It seems you don't understand me very well. When it comes to bears, the first thing that comes to mind is a huge figure and astonishing power... But not all bears are behemoths and danger personified."
Visits
Authorities set up visits for reporters to confirm bear's authenticity
Dr. Ashleigh Marshall, an expert from Chester Zoo, told BBC that the animal featured in the video is "definitely a real bear."
However, she acknowledged that sun bears can sometimes "look a lot like people in their costumes."
Since everyone was curious about the bear's peculiar stance, the zoo authorities even arranged for reporters to visit the sun bear named Angela on Monday.
Sun bears
Fascinating facts about sun bears
Sun bears are endangered animals found in the dense forests of Southeast Asia.
They are called "sun bears" due to the distinctive, round, yellowish fur patch on their chests, resembling a rising sun.
They are the world's smallest bears, with an average height of four feet when standing on their legs.
Their baggy skin enables them to move freely and offers protection against predators.
Twitter Post
Take closer look here
A bear🐻 stands up to mingle in the #Hangzhou Zoo! It sounds like a joke, and people wondered if it was a real bear or just someone in disguise, but it's true!🤣 Who knew bears liked to socialize? PS: It's actually a Malayan bear, the smallest bear type ever! @AnimalPlanet pic.twitter.com/YkORrKZfCd
— Hangzhoufeel (@hangzhoufeel) July 31, 2023