A UK wildlife park has waded into the debate following accusations that a zoo in China has been using a bloke dressed in a bear suit as a sun bear.
Yep, in case you’ve missed it - Hangzhou Zoo has hit headlines across the world due to the fact that some folk believe its sun bear Angela is actually some poor fella wearing a bear costume. Unbearlievable (sorry).
In a clip posted to Twitter, the bear appeared to have odd body proportions and weirdly sagging skin.
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The rumours were then stoked further when a video of the bear waving at visitors was shared online.
However, the zoo insists that the bear is 100 percent genuine sun bear and has issued a statement denying the claims.
In a social media post, that appeared to be written from Angel’s perspective, the zoo said: “Some people think that I am a person when I stand up… It seems that you don’t know me too well.”
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And now Hertfordshire-based Paradise Wildlife Park has shared a clip of its own sun bear - named Kyra - standing up on her hind legs with the caption: “We can confirm that Kyra is a sun bear.”
In the clip, Kyra can be seen in a similar stance to Angela as she wanders over to the camera to suss out what’s going on.
In a statement, Paradise Wildlife Park explains that the stance is a ‘natural behavior’ for ‘a greater view of their surroundings or [to] smell far-off objects’.
It added: “They also try to intimidate their enemies by displaying the chest patch if threatened.”
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Now if you just read that statement and thought, ‘that’s all well and good but what about the fact that Angela’s a**e somehow looks about three sizes too big for her?’
Another expert has confirmed to the BBC that, in her opinion, it is ‘definitely a real bear’.
Dr Ashleigh Marshall, from Chester Zoo, explained that the sun bear’s saggy skin was a defence mechanic, saying that it helps them quickly ‘turn around in their skin’ when attacked from behind.
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While the wild explanation may put the rumours to rest, the animal expert did admit that the specifics often ‘look a lot like people in their costumes’.
Well, I never doubted you for a second, Angela.
Whether she’s the real deal or not, she’s given a boost for the Hangzhou Zoo, with the Daily Mail reporting a 30 percent jump in visitor numbers with people eager to see the now-viral bear and learn more about the sun bear species.
Claire Reid