Bears Go Bald at Zoo; Experts Stumped

Nat Geo ^ | December 13, 2009 | National Geographic

[sodpoodle]

"We were very scared, because it was the first time we had seen this," Castellano said.

Keepers in Ecuador put that bear, which had previously been fed human food—including Coca-Cola—on its natural diet of fruits and bamboo, and added enrichment items, such as toys and exotic foods, into the bear's enclosure. Four months later the fur grew back.

[sodpoodle]

Aggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

If I could post the photo, I would.

[GeronL]

if they cannot hibernate they shed? Is that what happened? What time of year was this?

[bgill]

Helen, is that you?

[knarf]

Either gorebull warming .... or they’re hungry, saw how the chimps do it, and are eating the fleas.

[digger48]

[GeronL]

That bear looks familiar without the fur. Roseann Barr? Michelle Obama? I can’t think of the name... grrrr..

[bgill]

Poor bear, locked up in a brick cage and they wonder why she’s bald. Can you spell stress?

[maggief]

[sodpoodle]

Thanks digger;)

[stboz]

ManBearPig?

[GeronL]

possibly... maybe Mike Tyson?

[Notwithstanding]

Isn’t there a rule prohibiting that sort of thing on Sunday morning?

[Beowulf9]

Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea feeding bears Coca-Cola.

[sodpoodle]

That was my first thought;) LOL!

[Lurker]

L

[LiberConservative]

OMGosh! Bears going skinhead!! OMGOSH!

[big bad easter bunny]

if they feed them lots of fish that live a long time they tend to have high mercury levels which will make you lose your hair.

[TribalPrincess2U]

I hate when that happens.

[goat granny]

This should be of interest of all bald men...their diet is the reason they lose their hair......they should eat a bear diet.......

[Genflag]

Fuzzy Wazzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wazzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wazzy wasn’t very fuzzy was he?

I’m surprised no one had said that yet.