Algae-dyed polar bears puzzle Japan zoo visitors

Sun Sep 7, 2008 6:57 AM EDT
advertisement

Green-colored polar bears are drawing questions from puzzled visitors at a Japanese zoo.

Three normally white polar bears at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in central Japan changed their color in July after swimming in a pond with an overgrowth of algae.

The sight of green polar bears has prompted many questions from visitors concerned about whether the animals are sick or carrying mold, zoo official Masami Kurobe said Sunday.

"Visitors seem to be shocked by the color, and we are asked every day why they are so green," he said.

High temperatures in July and August and less-frequent water changes because of the zoo's conservation efforts caused an algae growth in the bear pond and safety moat, Kurobe said.

Algae that enters hollow spaces in the bears' fur is hard to rinse off, he said.

The bears are expected to return to their natural color when the algae growth subsides in November, Kurobe said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
  • 5 Votes
  • Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Back To Top

Published to:

What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
1.6
{"commentId":2804938,"authorDomain":"judoka61"}
Pietro Sommavilla
Visitors seem to be shocked by the color, and we are asked every day why they are so green," he said

.

Bears activists urged the leaders of various nations to take the global warming issue seriously..

lol

{"commentId":2804938,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"judoka61"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Sun Sep 7, 2008 9:37 AM EDT
{"commentId":2805684,"authorDomain":"lass"}
Krys-360973

Hey maybe the bears want to change things up a little....

{"commentId":2805684,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"lass"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Sun Sep 7, 2008 11:15 AM EDT
{"commentId":2810411,"authorDomain":"jennsamora"}
JENN9298

HEY KRYS......HOW ARE YOU?

{"commentId":2810411,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"jennsamora"}
    #2.1 - Sun Sep 7, 2008 7:38 PM EDT
    {"commentId":2811137,"authorDomain":"lass"}
    Krys-360973

    Hey jenn! How is the "nonliving" treating ya? Sorry, I have such a bad since of humor... I'm doing great, just had a hurricane come around my way, but all is good. How are you?

    {"commentId":2811137,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"lass"}
      #2.2 - Sun Sep 7, 2008 8:55 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2827738,"authorDomain":"jennsamora"}
      JENN9298

      I'M GREAT!!!! I HOPE YOU GET THRU THAT HURRICANE SAFE AND SOUND....DON;T EVER APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING A SHARP AND WITTY SENSE OF HUMOR......I LOVE A "DARK" SENSE OF HUMOR......I SEE COMEDY IN ALOT OF AREAS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND........SO I APPRECIATE IT!!!! TAKE CARE AND BE SAFE....CATCH YOU AROUND.....:)

      {"commentId":2827738,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"jennsamora"}
        #2.3 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 7:06 PM EDT
        Reply
        {"commentId":2810383,"authorDomain":"jennsamora"}
        JENN9298

        TOO MUCH WASABI........:)

        {"commentId":2810383,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"jennsamora"}
        • 1 vote
        Reply#3 - Sun Sep 7, 2008 7:35 PM EDT
        {"commentId":2820630,"authorDomain":"rightenough"}
        Arlo Goodbody

        HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

        {"commentId":2820630,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"rightenough"}
          #3.1 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 2:35 PM EDT
          Reply
          {"commentId":2829673,"authorDomain":"jimmym"}
          Jimi M

          Don't try to fool me ,them bears are into punk.

          {"commentId":2829673,"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438","authorDomain":"jimmym"}
          • 1 vote
          Reply#4 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 9:11 PM EDT
          {"canLink":false,"threadId":"351451","isPrivate":false}
          Leave a Comment:
          You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
          Newsvine Privacy Statement
          As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
          {"threadId":"351451","contentId":"1837438"}
          Start TrackingStart Tracking
          Stop TrackingStop Tracking
          Back To Top | Front Page