https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/31/chinese-zoo-denies-sun-bears-humans-costumes
Hangzhou zoo insists animals are real after video of one standing on hind legs triggers online speculation
This is stupid, I've seen bears stand on two legs once with my own eyes and a bunch of times in onliner videos.
Ive never seen a bear irl. Im not even sure we have them in the uk but i have always thought of bears as being able to stand on two legs.
The still photo looks sus af. The video, once it plops down and walks away on all fours, is clearly legit. Also, its jowls look pretty real.
It does make me think this sun bear has learned to stand up and mimic humans, goofing on how gawky and awkward we look though.
The bear is playing us. Like, it's the clever one in this whole interaction.
Bears are one of the few animals beside us that are plantigrade. They walk on the same parts of their foot that we do. This is in comparison to a dog or cat or a ton of other species that walks on their toes.
I imagine people see bears are plantigrade and unconsciously realize something is up with that, but not what. I don't think the bear is mimicking our stance, as standing up like that sometimes to look around is a bear thing already.
Sun bears are just weird. They pretty much always look like people in bear suits. It’s hilarious.
Huh. Another bear story. This is getting... un...
No. I'm not gonna do it. I won't say it. I have standards.
"Denies claims" Who tf made such a loud enough claim the government felt it necessary to respond?
As far as I can tell, the government said nothing, it was just a staff member from the zoo.
I'll resist the urge to make the joke that they're probably the same thing because yeah I definitely misread. Glad they're not putting people in bear costumes though. Probably.
Other Chinese zoos have been accused of trying to pass off dogs dyed to look like wolves or African cats, and donkeys painted to look like zebras.