Our bears are real, a Chinese zoo says, denying they are ‘humans in disguise’

中國一家動物園說，我們的熊是真的，否認牠們是「偽裝的人類」

【摘要2023.8.5.六.自由】◎周虹汶

A zoo in eastern China is denying suggestions some of its bears might be people in costumes after photos of the animals standing like humans circulated online.

動物像人類一樣站立的照片在網上流傳後，中國東部一間動物園否認了它有些熊可能是人穿著戲服的說法。

The sun bears from Malaysia are smaller than other bears and look different but are the real thing, the Hangzhou Zoo said Monday on its social media account.

杭州動物園週一在其社群媒體帳號上表示，來自馬來西亞的馬來熊比其他熊小隻，看起來也不一樣，但牠們是真的。

Internet users questioned whether the zoo’s bears were real after photos circulated showing one standing upright on slender hind legs.

流傳的照片有一張顯示一隻熊用細長的後腿站直，網友質疑這間動物園裡的熊是否為真。

Sun bears are the size of large dogs, standing at most 1.3 meters tall on their hind legs, compared with up to 2.8 meters for grizzlies and other species, according to the zoo.

根據園方說法，馬來熊的體型與大型犬相當，後腿站立時最高可達1.3公尺，而灰熊和其他物種最高可達2.8公尺。

Other Chinese zoos have been accused of trying to pass off dogs dyed to look like wolves or African cats, and donkeys painted to look like zebras. (AP)

中國其他動物園也有過試圖拿狗染色冒充成狼或非洲貓，以及驢漆成斑馬的相關指控。（美聯社）

新聞辭典

pass off：片語動詞，指發生、進行、假冒。例句：That dealer was trying to pass off fakes as valuable antiques.（那個商人試圖用假貨冒充貴重的古董。）

dye：動詞，指染色；名詞，指染料。例句：That cloth takes dye well.（那種布容易染色。）