Animals
Sun bear at Hangzhou Zoo baffles visitors, mistaken for zoo staff in a costume
Viral video sparks amusing speculation as a Sun bear at Hangzhou Zoo appears to beg for food.
Mistaken for a costumed staff member, the zoo clarifies the bear’s authenticity, highlighting the need for conservation awareness to protect these endangered creatures.
CHINA: A video of a Sun bear at Hangzhou Zoo in eastern China recently went viral, causing a wave of speculation and amusement.
In the video, the bear was seen standing on its hind legs, seemingly begging for food from tourists.
However, some netizens took a comical turn, mistakenly suggesting that it might be a zoo staff member dressed in an elaborate bear costume.
The video, which quickly gained traction on social media, led to a flurry of comments and comparisons that highlighted the bear’s slender legs and folds of fur, making it appear human-like to some observers.
“A Malay bear at Hangzhou Zoo went viral… just because it stood up and begged for food from tourists, some netizens mistakenly thought it was a staff member dressed in a costume,” stated a post by ‘灯甲席’ on his Weibo.
The zoo’s response
Hangzhou Zoo promptly responded to the viral speculation, issuing a statement on Sunday(30 Jul).
The statement was written from the bear’s perspective, sarcastically addressing the misunderstandings: “Some people think I stand like a person. It seems you don’t understand me very well.”
The Sun Bear is the smallest bear species, typically comparable in size to a large dog. They are native to the rainforests of South East Asia and are currently classified as an endangered species.
A spokesperson for the zoo firmly denied the rumours, asserting that the bear in question was undoubtedly real and not a human in disguise.
The zoo emphasized that such deception would not occur in a state-run facility. Moreover, they pointed out that a human attempting to impersonate a bear in a fur suit would quickly succumb to the sweltering heat.
To prove the authenticity of the bear and dispel any further doubts about the entertaining mix-up, the zoo decided for reporters to visit and see the bear for themselves on Monday.
While the situation garnered attention and laughter on the internet, it also highlighted the need for public awareness about the endangered Sun Bear and the importance of conservation efforts to protect these remarkable creatures.

- Opinion1 week ago
Shanmugam’s call to avoid politicising Nee Soon’s kickback case exposes hypocrisy given his 2015 attack on WP
- Politics2 weeks ago
Shanmugam defends response in kickback scandal at Nee Soon Town Council
- Singapore2 weeks ago
SM Lee urges Singaporeans to embrace new citizens for national unity during Chinese New Year speech
- Singapore5 days ago
Former transport minister S. Iswaran placed on home detention scheme after serving part of jail term
- Singapore1 week ago
Healthcare worker’s death sparks public dispute between TTSH and Red Dot United’s Ravi Philemon
- Court Cases5 days ago
Ong Beng Seng diagnosed with bone marrow cancer amid ongoing charges linked to ex-minister S Iswaran
- Politics1 week ago
Foreign family members of candidates exempted from election participation rule in Singapore
- Parliament6 days ago
Indranee Rajah backtracks on claim divorcing applicants face no HDB rental hurdles