By Tim Binnall
A zoo in China was forced to issue a statement squashing online speculation that one of its bears is actually a costume-clad human. The strange case reportedly began when a visitor to the Hangzhou Zoo filmed one of the creatures walking on its hind legs and interacting with people watching the animal. When the footage was posted on social media in China, several viewers observed that the bear's fur sported strange wrinkles and that it also seemed to possess inordinately thin legs. Those physical characteristics quickly led to many theorizing that the zoo was pulling a fast one on patrons by way of featuring a human dressed up as a bear.
The rumors apparently became so rampant online that the zoo ultimately felt compelled to assure the public that the animal is genuine. Explaining that while the perception of bears is that they are "a huge figure," the facility noted that the creature in question is actually a Malaysian sun bear, which is actually rather diminutive. A spokesperson for the zoo also noted that the area had been experiencing temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and, as such, a costume-clad individual "would not last more than a few minutes before collapsing." The online confusion is somewhat understandable as multiple facilities in China have been caught orchestrating similar ruses wherein they have tried to pass off dogs, donkeys, or even inflatable birds as 'exotic animals.'