A zoo in China's eastern Hangzhou city has rubbished rumours suggesting that its sun bear is actually a human in disguise, following a viral video showing the bear standing on its hind legs.
Chinese social media was set abuzz when a video clip capturing a sun bear standing on its hind legs and interacting with a group of visitors at a zoo went viral.
Several netizens took to social media and expressed scepticism about the bear's authenticity, raising suspicions that the bear's standing posture and wrinkled skin indicated that it might be a person disguised in a bear costume.
On Sunday, the zoo denied the rumours by issuing a statement penned from the bear's perspective, asserting that the creature is indeed a real sun bear and not a human in a costume.
The zoo further criticized those who doubted its existence, claiming that they had simply failed to comprehend its true nature.
Zoo officials gave an entertaining response to the rumours. They quoted Angela, a bear residing at the zoo, who claimed that the zoo's director had contacted her after work and playfully questioned if she had been slacking off by seeking a two-legged creature to take her place.
“Some people thought the way I stand up looks too human… so I will stress again: I’m a sun bear!”
Sun bears, which are native to Southeast Asia, are known for their patch of bright orange or cream-colored chest fur that stands out among their jet-black coat.
Listed as a vulnerable species, the rare sun bears, which are known for being small in size, like that of a large dog, are primarily at risk due to deforestation and the global wildlife trade.