China’s Hangzhou Zoo has had to assure its visitors that its sun bears are not just people in costume, after footage of one of the animals standing like a person went viral online.

Sun Bears are the smallest member of the bear family, and can be found in the dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. Their name was earned from the bright golden patch on their chest. These markings have been part of legends saying they represent the rising sun.

Responding to a video of one of its bears standing on its hind legs and waving, the zoo said that people “don’t understand” the species after people speculated online that bear was an employee in a costume.

Zoo in China denies human in bear costume rumor sparked by videos of sagging fur.

The zoo confirms Angela is a real Malaysian sun bear, a smaller species, and stated that a human in a bear suit wouldn't withstand summer temperatures of up to 104°F (40°C).pic.twitter.com/EcEx0A9LT5

— BoreCure (@CureBore) July 31, 2023

This is a real bear, not a human dressed in costumes! A four-year-old Malayan sun bear named Angela in a Hangzhou zoo went viral on China's social media as a video showed the world's smallest bear standing upright and waving to tourists just like a human. pic.twitter.com/Azv2tTVJhv

— Yicai Global 第一财经 (@yicaichina) August 1, 2023

“Some people think I stand like a person. It seems you don't understand me very well,” said the zoo in a post written from the perspective of a sun bear. “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.”

The exchange has led to a number of zoos insisting their bears are in fact the real deal. Edinburgh Zoo posted a photo confirming that Rotana is in fact a sun bear, while Chester Zoo also confirmed its animal was “100% sun bear”.

We can confirm that Rotana IS a sun bear... 👀💛 pic.twitter.com/luci7tIUbT

— Edinburgh Zoo (@EdinburghZoo) August 1, 2023

💯% sun bear pic.twitter.com/AyUc7ntKY1

— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) July 31, 2023

Paradise Wildlife Park also sent out a release stating that “in light of the news currently taken the world by storm, Paradise Wildlife Park would like to share that sun bears are real!”