A zoo in China refuted allegations that its bears were humans inb costumes, after viral images and videos showed a bear standing on its hind legs like a human. The Hangzhou Daily mentioned Weibo users questioning the authenticity due to pant-like folds visible on the bear's rear in zoomed-in footage.
A Sun Bear receives a Christmas treat at Taronga Zoo on December 14, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.
Is It a Bear or a Human?
The Guardian reported that Chinese news outlets have featured a close-up image of the bear, which revealed pant-like folds on its rear, leading Weibo users to speculate whether the zoo used "humans in disguise."
However, Hangzhou Zoo defended their Malaysian sun bears as genuine, asserting that the speculation was unfounded. The zoo shared a post, supposedly in the animal's voice, stating, "Some people think I stand like a person... It seems you don't understand me very well."
While an employee at the zoo declined to comment to the Associated Press, they mentioned that arrangements were being made for reporters to visit the animals and see for themselves.
Chinese zoos have faced previous accusations of attempting to deceive visitors, with incidents involving dogs disguised as wolves, African cats, and donkeys painted to resemble zebras.
Furthermore, a spokesperson for the zoo explained in an audio recording shared on WeChat that the bear was authentic, asserting that such deception would not occur in a state-run facility. The spokesperson also pointed out the impracticality of a human in a fur bear suit enduring the scorching 104°F (40°C) summer temperature for more than a few minutes.
Additionally, a zoo employee mentioned that visits for reporters were being organized on Monday to witness the bears firsthand. The establishment said that sun bears, the smallest bear species, have a gentle temperament, making it common for them to stand up and interact with visitors.
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Sun Bears: Smallest Bear Species
The sun bear is the smallest member of the bear family, as per National Geographic. It resides in the secluded, dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. With a stocky build and short muzzle, they are nicknamed "dog bears" and are recognized by the bib-shaped golden or white patch on their chest, resembling the rising sun. They grow up to half the size of American black bears, making them well-suited for their arboreal lifestyle.
Despite their nocturnal behavior, sun bears have an excellent sense of smell and long claws for tearing open trees and termite nests. They are known to eat fruits, berries, roots, insects, birds, lizards, and rodents, and are aptly nicknamed "honey bears" due to their long tongue used to extract honey from bee nests.
According to Animalia, sun bears stand on their hind feet to gain a better view of their surroundings and detect distant scents. That may explain why the sun bear in the video was standing. More so, they try to intimidate their enemies by displaying their chest patch when they feel threatened.
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