A zoo in China has denied allegations that its bears are actually humans wearing elaborate costumes after images of the animals standing up on two legs went viral online. The Hangzhou Zoo in eastern China explained on its social media account on Monday that sun bears from Malaysia are smaller and look different to other ursine species, but that they are definitely real animals and not people. “Because of the way they stand, some people online question whether they are ‘humans in disguise,’” the Hangzhou Daily newspaper reported. An employee at the zoo told The Associated Press that visits were being arranged for journalists to see the bears on Monday. Other zoos have previously faced allegations of dyeing dogs’ fur to make them look like wolves and attempting to pass off painted donkeys as zebras.

  • @totallynotarobot
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    252 years ago

    Sounds like something a human in a bear costume would say.

    • @Tommy_the_Gun
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      32 years ago

      they are definitely real animals and not people.

      Nothing suspicious about that!

  • @Cynicivity
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    222 years ago

    On one hand, I highly doubt they have humans in bear costumes in this heat. On the other hand, Chinese zoos are known for purposefully mislabeling animals in their habitats, such as a Tibetan mastiff dressed like a lion, and many others.

  • @carl_dungeon
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    172 years ago

    Well, it’s China so I wouldn’t be surprised if they were, then again, this is a culture that routinely throws coins into jet engines for “luck” so… I could believe it either way. I’d believe it if it were Florida or Texas too.

  • jsveiga
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    132 years ago

    That’s a ludicrous idea, why would they put humans diguised as sun bears? They’re obviously racoons disguised as bears.

  • @schroedingershat
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    82 years ago

    Ridiculous.

    In reality all bears are fake. Have you seen one move? Or even worse, a shaved bear? No animal is that shape. They’re all animatronics run by a secret cabal of Potoos.

    • Flying Squid
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      82 years ago

      I will have you know that bears are very real. They wear hats and ties and eat pic-a-nic baskets.

  • @Sanctus
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    82 years ago

    I’m sorry but I don’t think bear ass flesh folds like pants on a concave ass.

    • ∟⊔⊤∦∣≶
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      92 years ago

      It’s definitely a real bear, watch the video. It’s just very wierd to see it standing

      • @Sanctus
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        32 years ago

        Had me in the first half, but as soon as it catches that food you can tell its real. How tf its head look plastic in the still? Lol

  • Norgur
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    62 years ago

    Wait… I’m German and even I got the joke… how little humour do the people at this zoo have?

    On the other hand… why are they so eager to deny this? That’s exactly how someone would behave if the jokes hit a nerve…

  • Archmage Azor
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    42 years ago

    If you’ve ever seen a sun bear you know it’s a valid suspicion

  • Quinten
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    12 years ago

    Uhm… yes right.