Some Chinese netizens recently shared a video in which they questioned the behavior of a Malayan bear at Hangzhou Zoo. The bear was spotted standing on its hind legs and waving its front paws, raising the possibility that it was a person dressed as a bear.
The zoo, however, promptly refuted these reports, claiming that the bear’s behavior is entirely natural. Summer temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, making it hard to wear a bear costume for an extended amount of time without suffering heatstroke.
The bear was shown standing and begging for food from guests in the footage, and it also opened its mouth to eat. The zoo stated that the bear in question was a Malayan bear, the world’s smallest bear species noted for its friendly demeanor. Bears, notably Malayan bears, can stand on their rear legs for a variety of reasons, including play or fighting.
The charge of a person dressed as a bear was laughed at by most Chinese netizens, with others suggesting that hiring a person would be more expensive than keeping a bear. They voiced their confidence in the zoo’s reliability, adding that such an incident would be easily uncovered.
Another zoo attracted criticism in May after visitors claimed that they only saw common domestic animals like chickens, dogs, and sheep, rather than more diversified species.
Many netizens pointed out that the main issue in the “bear” video is human behavior. They chastised visitors for feeding the animals irresponsibly, emphasizing that the zoo’s employees should take precautions to guarantee the animals’ safety and prohibit visitors from feeding them.
