A sun bear stands on hind legs while interacting with tourists at Hangzhou Zoo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
HANGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- If 4-year-old Malayan sun bear Angela had access to the internet, she would undoubtedly be surprised to discover that simply by standing upright and interacting with visitors, she has created headlines globally.
The Hangzhou Zoo, situated in the capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, has seen a remarkable surge in visitors lately after the video of a bear exhibiting human-like behavior went viral and sparked speculation that it might be a human in disguise.
Last week, a video was uploaded online showing the bear standing upright on its hind legs. The bear's human-like behavior and the unusual crease in its fur quickly raised suspicion among the public.
The zoo previously issued a statement refuting the rumor. However, the incident garnered significant global attention, with numerous foreign media outlets covering the story. Netizens from around the world also took to social media to share their comments and opinions on the matter.
"You can see where the costume leg ends near the ankle," a netizen commented.
"I worked at a zoo for years. That is what Sun Bears look like. And they stand up like that all the time," read another comment on a Fox News report.
The BBC quoted Ashleigh Marshall, an expert from Chester Zoo, as saying that the animal in the video was "definitely a real bear," and that the ruffled appearance around the rear end allows the bear to "turn around in their skin" and fight back if a large animal were to get hold of them.
Following the online frenzy in China, the 65-year-old zoo experienced a significant surge in visitors. According to Jiang Zhi, vice head of the zoo, the number of zoo-goers increased by a third after the video went viral.
Speaking to Xinhua, he said that the female bear Angela resides in the zoo alongside her partner, Dalu. While Dalu is known for being mischievous, Angela, on the other hand, has always displayed a curious nature, eagerly exploring her surroundings.
Malayan sun bears can be found in southwest China and Southeast Asian countries. They are under first-class national protection in China.
"Our zoo had no Malayan sun bears before 2020, which might be the reason why people are not familiar with them," said Jiang, who has over two decades of experience in wildlife breeding and management.
The Malayan sun bear is the smallest member of the bear family, he explained, noting that all bears have the ability to stand on their hind legs, particularly when encountering a potential threat in the wild.
"The Malayan sun bears in the zoo have a mild demeanor," Jiang said, adding that they stood up perhaps only to interact with visitors.
He Jianying and her 7-year-old daughter came from south China's Guangdong Province to see the bear. "Look, it is standing up again. So cute," she said while taking pictures with her phone. "My daughter is starting primary school, and I believe it would be beneficial for her to gain some knowledge from visiting the zoo."
In an earlier statement, the Hangzhou Zoo asserted that it was implausible for a human to work in a bear costume, especially considering the scorching temperatures that can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the city.
The heatwaves have also presented a challenge for zookeepers like Yu Hongyan. "We are now giving the bears food that contains more water, including lots of watermelons," Yu said. Additionally, the pond inside the enclosure is filled with more water to allow the bears to cool down and find relief from the heat.
The zoo staffers are eager for the bear couple to have a baby, and they have already prepared a delivery area in anticipation of the possibility.
Jiang Zhi expressed his hope that Angela's popularity could serve as an opportunity to raise people's awareness. "I hope that people will be encouraged to pay more attention to animal protection and love the ecological environment." ■
