A zoo in eastern China is being called out for appearing to have fake bears. As in people dressed in life-like bear costumes!
Just Standing Straight Up
Zoo attendees were not convinced for one second that the animal standing straight up on its hind legs was a real sun bear. A video showing the Malayan sun bear looking very human-like and not appearing to know any bear moves.
The video has now gone viral and zoo goers are super annoyed that their local zoo would pull a stunt like this one. The “weird” bear began to spark conspiracies and fuel rumors on Chinese social media.
Many started to believe theories as wild as the “people-bear” being a planted spy or suspecting that something horrible happened to the real bear. It wasn’t a good look and it forced the zoo to release a statement.
‘I’m Angela The Sun Bear’
In the statement just as wacky as the bear, the zoo officials wrote it in the voice of the bear herself.
“I’m Angela the sun bear – I got a call after work yesterday from the head of the zoo asking if I was being lazy and skipped work today and found a human to take my place. Let me reiterate again to everyone that I am a sun bear – not a black bear, not a dog – a sun bear!”
The video shared on Weibo showed the bear standing on a rock and looking on at the enclosure and it wasn’t only the position of the bear that spooked onlookers. Some noted the folds of loose fur on its butt.
There is no question the bear is not the type that people are used to gawking at but accusing it of being a human imposter has rubbed the protective zoo staff the wrong way.
Believe It Or Not, It’s Happened Before
In China again, in 2013, a zoo in central Henan province ticked off their patrons by claiming a Tibetan Mastiff dog was a lion. They almost got away with it but a dog will do what a dog will do.
When patrons got close to the enclosure to do what patrons will do anything from taking photos to banging on the fence/glass, the “lion” barked! Repeatedly so no sounds were misheard, and there was no question, this was a dog.
At a zoo in Sichuan province, patrons were promised an African lion but were met with a golden retriever sitting in a cage just as confused as the people looking at it.
More Humans As Animals
This is clearly not an isolated incident just last weekend; a man has completed his journey to become a dog. He went on his first walk around his city and even performed. Few tricks! The Japanese man spent $14,000 to make the transformation.
His name when he is a dog is Toco and he is a collie. He plays fetch, he shakes, and he rolls over. The response has been a lot of hate with people mostly upset at the amount of money he has spent on his cosplay and pointing out that he is living an “unrealistic lifestyle”.