Photo of a bear standing upright at a zoo

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Truth or Bear?

Is this a bear or a human dressed up as one? Visitors at the Hangzhou Zoo in eastern China recently asked that question on social media.

Zookeepers say this is a real sun bear, an endangered species found in southeast Asia. It’s the smallest bear species in the world. Most are between 4 and 5 feet tall when standing upright.  

The saggy skin on this bear’s backside might look like a poorly-fitting costume. But it actually helps sun bears survive in the wild. The looseness allows them to twist and escape if bitten. 

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