Hangzhou Zoo: Our sun bears are real, not humans in disguise

A zoo successful eastbound China has reassured visitors its prima bears are existent alternatively than humans successful disguise, aft footage of 1 carnal lasting similar a idiosyncratic sent rumours flying online.

Responding to a viral video of a carnivore connected its hind legs, Hangzhou Zoo said radical "don't understand" the species.

Social media users had speculated that the carnivore could beryllium a idiosyncratic successful costume.

Sun bears, the smallest carnivore taxon successful the world, are mostly the size of a ample dog, the zoo says.

They are an endangered taxon autochthonal to the rainforests of South East Asia.

In the video, the prima carnivore is seen lasting gangly connected the borderline of its enclosure, holding its paws by its broadside and seemingly observing the zoo's visitors for itself.

People connected societal media had questioned however the carnivore could basal truthful upright connected slender legs, arsenic good arsenic the quality of what looks to beryllium tegument bagging astir its hips - immoderate noting the similarity to those connected an ill-fitting carnivore suit.

In a station written from the position of a prima bear, Hangzhou Zoo said: "Some radical deliberation I basal similar a person... It seems you don't recognize maine precise well."

"When it comes to bears, the archetypal happening that comes to caput is simply a immense fig and astonishing power… But not each bears are behemoths and information personified."

The zoo, done the bear's voice, alternatively emphasised prima bears are "petite, the smallest carnivore successful the world".

Hangzhou Zoo's station notes that the bears basal astir 1.3m (4ft) gangly erstwhile lasting up connected their hind legs, which is little than fractional the size of grizzly bears autochthonal to North America.

Visits were being arranged for reporters to spot the carnivore connected Monday, a zoo worker told AP quality bureau implicit the phone.