A bear standing on its hind legs, showing off its saggy fur, in a zoo in eastern China is causing quite a stir. This particular Malayan bear, also known as a Sun bear, was caught on camera at Hangzhou Zoo by a curious visitor last week. 

The video went viral, with many suggesting the bear was actually a person in a costume.

"If this is fake, it deserves an Oscar for special effects," said one user on Weibo. Europe's media has also gone into overdrive speculating over its authenticity.

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The zoo in China's Zhejiang province hit back, insisting the bear was "definitely not a human."

Their statement read: "I'm Angela the sun bear – I got a call after work yesterday from the head of the zoo asking if I was being lazy and skipped work today and found a human to take my place.

"Let me reiterate again to everyone that I am a sun bear – not a black bear, not a dog – a sun bear!”

What do we know about the sun bear?

According to the zoo, they are the size of large dogs, they are 120 centimeters (cm) to 150cm in length and often stand tall to explore their environment. Pictures of Angela show baggy skin, but experts say this is usual, stating it helps them in the wild, acting as armor from predators.

The sun bear can be distinguished from other bears by a white or yellowish patch on the chest. They are excellent climbers and spend alot of time in trees, feeding on sweet fruits, small rodents, birds, termites, and other insects.

Where do they live?

They are native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, including China, and are also the world's smallest bear species.

However, their numbers are dwindling and are classed as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List. It is believed the population has fallen by over 30 percent in the last 30 years.

They are hunted for their gall bladders and other body parts for medicinal uses. Clearance for plantation development and illegal logging has also decimated their habitat. 

As the debate rages on over the bear's identity and the visitors continue to flock to Hangzhou Zoo, Angela and its owners are standing firm.

A staff member at the zoo said: "The temperature in the summer is nearly 40 degrees. If you put on a fur suit, you certainly couldn't last more than a few minutes without lying down."

Real fur or fake....What do you think?

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