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BEIJING — A zoo in eastern China is denying suggestions some of its bears might be people in costumes after photos of the animals standing like humans circulated online.
The sun bears from Malaysia are smaller than other bears and look different but are the real thing, the Hangzhou Zoo said Monday on its social media account.
"Some people think I stand like a person," said the posting, written from the bear's point of view. "It seems you don't understand me very well."
An employee who answered the phone at the zoo declined to talk about the bears but said visits were being arranged for reporters Monday to see them.
Internet users questioned whether the zoo's bears were real after photos circulated showing one standing upright on slender hind legs.
"Because of the way they stand, some people online question whether they are 'humans in disguise,'" the newspaper Hangzhou Daily said.
A video of a "human-like" black #bear 🐻at #Hangzhou Zoo went viral! But the zoo staff denies it's a person in disguise—too hot to bear! #animalpic.twitter.com/47y9VzslYQ
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) July 31, 2023
Sun bears are the size of large dogs, standing at most 50 inches tall on their hind legs, compared with up to 9 feet for grizzlies and other species, according to the zoo.
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.
