A zoo located in eastern China has dismissed claims suggesting that its bears are, in reality, people dressed in costumes. The controversy arose after a video showcasing a Malayan sun bear standing on its hind legs went viral on social media.
The footage, which emerged on the Chinese version of TikTok, known as Douyin, sparked speculation among internet users, leading some to question whether the bear was actually a human in disguise. The Hangzhou Zoo, situated in the eastern province of Zhejiang, has come forward to clarify that the bear, named Angela, is indeed a genuine Malayan sun bear, albeit a slightly smaller and distinct type of bear.
In an attempt to quell the rumors, the zoo posted a statement on its official social media account from the perspective of the bear in the video. The message reiterated the bear’s true identity and highlighted the misunderstandings regarding its appearance.
The video gained substantial attention, with millions of views on the platform, as people debated the authenticity of the bear’s behavior, including the visible folds of fur on its body that some thought resembled ill-fitting human clothing. However, wildlife experts, such as Wong Siew Te, a wildlife biologist and founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia, confirmed that the animal in question was indeed a sun bear.
Sun bears have characteristics that can be reminiscent of humans, such as standing and walking on their hind legs, and even carrying their young with their hands. Despite these human-like traits, experts like Wong Siew Te were quick to dismiss the notion that the bear in the video could be a human in disguise.
The zoo faced criticism but stood firm in denying the allegations, stating that humans would not be able to withstand the high temperatures (104°F) in the area while dressed in a fur suit for even a few minutes. The sun bear is the smallest bear species, measuring up to 1.3 meters (51 inches) tall, while other bear species can reach up to 2.8 meters (110 inches) tall on their hind legs.
Sun bears face significant challenges in the wild, with their population decreasing by over 30% in the past three decades, and they are classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list. The incident with the viral video has brought attention to the endangered species and raised awareness about the impact of human activities, such as deforestation and hunting, on their survival.
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It is essential to distinguish the truth behind such claims to focus on protecting endangered animals like sun bears, especially as they face numerous threats to their survival.
