A visit to the zoo offers the opportunity to witness a fascinating array of unique and captivating animals. However, the sun bears at a Chinese zoo have recently captured global attention for an exceptionally peculiar reason: some people believe they are merely humans in disguise.
A video of a black sun bear from the Hangzhou Zoo in Eastern China, which reportedly originated on the Chinese site Weibo, has gone viral internationally, sparking the imagination of conspiracy-minded viewers.
Many people became convinced that the bear was not a real bear, but actually a person in a bear costume because of its seemingly unusual posture and appearance as it stood upright on its hind legs. The bear does have an uncanny appearance in the video: the perfectly upright posture and folds of loose fur on its backside do make it look strangely like a human in a costume.
However, the zoo has responded to the bizarre rumors, stating that the sun bear, named Angela, is just a sun bear and not a person in a costume. They explained that the skepticism likely comes from the public not understanding the sun bear, which is the smallest of all the bear species.
The zoo also said that the Malayan sun bear, which is a vulnerable species threatened by deforestation and illegal hunting, is often forgotten. Their population has declined by 35% over the past three decades.
Wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te, founder of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center (BSBCC), explained that while sun bears are usually “fat and round,” their skin can become loose when food is scarce. He also said that sun bears usually stand up high to investigate their surroundings and that female sun bears even hold their cubs with both hands and walk on their feet, very human-like, so people may mistake them for humans.
If you still can’t believe it’s a real sun bear and not a human in a suit, a spokesperson for the zoo debunked the rumors by pointing out that a human would not be able to withstand the summer heat while wearing a giant fur suit.
In conclusion, this viral tale highlights the importance of paying attention to vulnerable species like the Malayan sun bear which is often overlooked and misunderstood.
