Visitors flock to a zoo in eastern China to see a strange-looking bear that has gone viral online after speculation that it is, in fact, a person in a costume.
About 20,000 people a day now visit Hanzhou Zoo, a 30 percent increase since the video was first shared on Sunday, to judge for themselves.
There was speculation online after Angela the sun bear was seen standing, begging for food, with the camera angle offering an unflattering view of his loose bottom fur.
Now tens of millions have seen clips of the bear clumsily trying to catch food thrown into the enclosure by visitors and appearing to resign itself to sitting on a rock.
The zoo quickly dismissed claims that the animal was dressing up, insisting that such deception would not happen in a state-run zoo.
New photos from the zoo show visitors flocking to see the bear as he walks around his enclosure, snacking on a mix of fruits and vegetables.
Qian Ming, one of 20,000 people now making the pilgrimage, told local TV that he traveled 150 miles by train from Suzhou to see the bear. “We traveled overnight to get here last night,” he said.
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a sun bear interacts with tourists at the Hangzhou Zoo in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province on Wednesday, August 2, 2023
A sun bear enjoys fruit at Hangzhou Zoo in Hangzhou, China’s Zhejiang province, Aug. 2. Angela, 4, was seen clumsily trying to catch food thrown into the clip by visitors
A bear is seen sitting on a rock at the Hangzhou Zoo, recently forced to respond to strange allegations that their sun bears were, in fact, humans in costumes
Their large legs with hairless soles may look like feet, but are adapted to help them climb
Another visitor, Mr. You, told a local news outlet, “After seeing this bear on the internet, I wanted to see what it looks like in real life, so I came here.”
The Hangzhou Zoo has made it clear that Angela is a real bear, explaining that sun bears can look a little different than we might expect.
A spokesman said: ‘When it comes to bears, the first thing that comes to mind is a huge figure and amazing strength.
“But not all bears are behemoths and danger personified.”
They were also careful to dismiss claims that Angela was a person in a suit, adding:
“If you let someone wear such a thick coat in this summer heat, it won’t be more than a few minutes before they have to lie down.
“We are a government-run zoo. There will never be such situations.’
Experts also weighed in on the popular clip. Dr. Ashleigh Marshall, an expert from Chester Zoo, told us the BBC that the animal is ‘definitely a real bear’.
She explained that the folds on its back, presumably evidence of an ill-fitting costume, help protect the bear from predators, as the looseness allows the bear to “turn in its own skin” and fight back if grabbed.
Others have reacted to the story with concern for the bear’s welfare.
Jason Baker, vice president of PETA Asia, assured MailOnline that the wrinkles in the bear’s fur did not indicate any health problems, but expressed concern for the animal’s general well-being.
He said: ‘Sun bears naturally have loose skin to prevent them from being taken by predators. The loose skin allows them to easily turn and fight back or try to escape.
‘While these bears show no obvious signs of malnutrition, life in captivity is anything but healthy. In the wild, sun bears spend a lot of time climbing trees and trudging through the forest at night in search of snacks, including berries, roots, insects and other small animals.
“In captivity, they are denied the ability to find their own food, choose their own mate or even choose where to sleep.”
Baker warned that “there are virtually no animal protection laws in China and even the best zoos are a mess.” burrows in soft soil, travel great distances over varied terrain, or do anything else that is natural and important to them.
“Some bears are forced to beg food from tourists, and the concrete floors mean the animals suffer from a variety of physical ailments, including osteoarthritis and foot injuries.
Many non-accredited zoos will try to camouflage their cruelty with conservation claims, but the truth is that virtually none of the animals born in these facilities will ever be released into the wild.
“Anyone who cares about protecting endangered species should donate to organizations that work to protect them in their natural habitat, not pay to see them used as living objects for human entertainment.”
Responding to concerns about the bear’s behavior, he explained: “Sun bears only stand upright when attacked or trained to do so, and a PETA Asia study of Chinese circuses shows that in this vicious industry, bear cubs are chained or tied to a wall and forced to stay upright, sometimes for hours, to teach them to walk on their hind legs.
“If they can’t hold themselves up, they risk strangling and hanging themselves.
These two bears were probably once forced to perform in circuses and trained to stand using this disturbing method, and PETA Asia is urging Hangzhou Zoo and other institutions to stop confining animals for entertainment and to to end all breeding programs involving sun bears or other animals.
“We call on the public never to visit facilities where animals are exhibited for entertainment or circuses that use animals and to support genuine sanctuaries and nature reserves that prioritize the welfare of the animals they care for.
“PETA strongly urges Hangzhou Zoo and all similar facilities to immediately stop using sun bears or other animals for breeding purposes.”
A sun bear rests in a pool at Hangzhou Zoo in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, Aug. 2, as zoo visitors surge by 30 percent following the spread of a viral clip
China zoo said despite odd-looking fur and legs, ‘it’s a real animal’
The state zoo was responding to allegations that the bear (pictured) was a human in a suit
Sun bears have several features, such as a short, smooth black coat, a pale yellow crescent on their chest (which gives them their name), and a light-colored muzzle.
They are also known as honey bears – for their love of honey – and dog face bears…for their dog-like faces.
Their large legs with hairless soles may look like feet, but are adapted to help them climb.
Sun bears are the size of large dogs, standing up to 4 feet (1.3 meters) tall on their hind legs – much shorter than other species.