A zoo in eastern China has denied suggestions that some of its bears were people dressed in costume after videos of a Malayan sun bear standing on its hind legs – and looking uncannily human – went viral, fueling rumors and conspiracy theories on Chinese social media.

Fuck zoos anyways, amirite? This is much better. Paying a person a liveable wage? Giving them fresh air, sun, exercise? Making zoo-goers happy and educated? Now that's what I call progress!!

  • Gorillatactics [none/use name]
    ·
    1 year ago

    Bears are 100% people that's for sure, they're just non human persons.

    If you're brought up to believe animals are thoughtless automatons seeing an animal display obvious signs of personhood I can understand why you'd call it a human in an animal suit. Especially bears, they're probably the most relatable non-human persons outside of apes.

    • jack [he/him, comrade/them]
      ·
      1 year ago

      If it helpful to define "obvious signs of personhood" as "human-like posture and proportions"?

      • Gorillatactics [none/use name]
        ·
        1 year ago

        Bears look like dudes when they're on all 4s too.

        I also think most people if they had to pick other non human-persons, would have Elephants as one of their first 3 choices. And elephants don't look like us at all.