Inside the fascinating lives of the ‘human’ sun bears: After the internet conspiracy

They are smarter than your average bear.

As the smallest of the bear family, sun bears are often not remarked for their size, but are more well known for their above average intelligence. 

Experts told MailOnline that the animals are ‘incredibly clever’ as they are able to remember the locations of food and mimic each other’s facial expressions to communicate. 

And while they have no special evolutionary link to any primates, their ability to stand upright and their unusually straight limbs can trick some into believing they are more human-like than they really are. 

It therefore comes as no surprise that the behaviour and looks of one sun bear in China have left people around the world debating whether she really is a bear or a person in a costume.  

Kim Vaughan, Section Leader of Primates and Small Mammals at Paradise Wildlife Park told MailOnline: ‘All ursids [members of the bear family] can stand due to their strong physique. 

‘Their limbs are straighter unlike terrestrial carnivores, Plantigrades disturb their weight to their back feet which provides excellent balance and standing.

‘Sun bears are incredibly clever, they can remember locations of food and have complex facial expressions to communicate.’

The creatures will often stand up right for a greater view of their surroundings or to help them smell far-off objects. Like other bears it can also be a defence behaviour to protect their territory.

Ironically, sun bears are nocturnal creatures and instead get their name from the yellow cresecent shape on their chest, which is said to resemble a setting sun.

The species is also known as the ‘honey bear’ due to its love for honey – which it extracts by using its long tongue. 

They are found living in forests across Southeast Asia, from southern China to eastern India and as far south as Indonesia, and while they are playful with other sun bears they are largely solitary animals.

Sun bears are omnivores and eat a mixture of fruits, berries and roots as well as instects, small birds and lizards. 

Sun bears have extremely long claws, which can exceed four inches, making them well adpated for climbing as well as ripping open trees and termite nests in search for food. 

They have also been known to use their claws to pick open locks, with one captive bear having used its claws to open a cupboard locked by a key to retrieve some honey inside.

Sun bears have also been observed opening their mouths to match their playmates when they are interacting face-to-face.

In the behavioural study, researchers found that bears can use facial expressions to communicate with others in a similar way to humans and apes.

Researchers claim that such facial mimicry has not been seen in primates outside humans and gorillas. 

They said that this ‘strongly suggests’ that other mammals could also perform this complex social skill and, in addition, have a degree of social sensitivity.

Sun bears are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to the illegal bear bile farm trade found in Southeast Asia. 

Bear bile farming is an illegal trade that sadly has devasted sun bears, moon bears and brown bears across Asia and parts of Europe.

The increasing rate of deforestation across Southeast Asia has also lead to a decline in the species’ populations as they are largely forest dependant.

One sun bear in Hanzhou Zoo, in China, has this week left people around the world baffled since footage of the human-like zoo animal first emerged – with fans debating whether she really is a bear or a person in a costume.

Suspicion around the bear’s human-like ways first arose online after the sun bear was seen standing, begging for food, and seemingly waving like a person might.

The camera angle also showed an unflattering view of sagging fur around the cretaure’s behind – which many suggested made it look like a costume.

Dr Wong Siew Te, a Malaysian wildlife biologist and sun bear specialist, added he ‘didn’t know whether to laugh or cry’ when he heard the allegations about the human-like bear, named Angela, which lives in Hanzhou Zoo, China.

‘There is no doubt that it is a sun bear. I currently have four rescue sun bears in my centre and it shows that people know very little about them,’ he told The Mirror.

Dr Wong did sympathise with people who mistook the bear, named Angela, for a human however, pointing out that zoos in China have previously ‘made up fake stuff’.

When Dr Wong himself first saw a sun bear, he said, ‘I… was like: ‘Wow and yes it looks like a human’s wearing a bear suit’, but this is just sun bear and that is what is amazing’. 

Dr Ashleigh Marshall, an expert from Chester Zoo, also weighed in on the clip. She told the BBC that the animal ‘is definitely a real bear’.

She explained that the folds on its back, assumed to be evidence of an ill-fitting costume, help protect the bear from predators, as the looseness allows the bear to ‘turn around in their skin’ and fight back if grabbed.

The zoo was quick to dismiss claims the animal playing dress-up and has insisted that Angela is a real bear, explaining that sun bears can look a little different to what people might expect.

A spokesperson said: ‘When it comes to bears, the first thing that comes to mind is a huge figure and astonishing power.

‘But not all bears are behemoths and danger personified.’

They were also careful to dismiss claims Angela was a person in a suit, adding: ‘If you get someone to wear such thick fur in this summer heat, they won’t last more than a few minutes before they need to lie down.

‘We are a government-operated zoo. There will never be situations like that.’