The erect baribal, or black bear, has reappeared in the United States. The animal, which moves exclusively on its hind legs, has already become something of a local celebrity.
He was last seen in December this year in Hackensack, New Jersey. Now the bear has been spotted in the Oak Ridge community of the same state. The amazing beast has already been given the nickname Pedals.
Many locals believe that the baribal's front legs are damaged, so the poor animal is forced to move on its hind legs. People feared that the bear died in the winter, but now it turned out that he was alive. Pedals was photographed and filmed many times, thanks to which he became popular on the World Wide Web. The beast often approaches houses, looks into garbage containers, however, as a rule, it avoids people.
It is also suggested that this is a circus bear that fled from its owners. However, in New Jersey, no one has yet reported the loss of a trained bear. And, finally, there are people who believe that this is a healthy wild baribal who has learned to walk on his hind limbs and decided that this is more convenient for him to move. However, most Americans still believe that the animal is injured. Some eyewitnesses who have encountered the bear confirm that its front legs are in fact damaged. Perhaps a tree fell on them, or Pedals was attacked by a large predator.
Pedals - injured two-legged bear
About six months ago, a group called Pedals - a wounded two-legged bear appeared on the social network Facebook, which currently has more than eleven thousand subscribers. Members of this community are constantly looking for information about the whereabouts of the baribal and send it to the American animal protection service. Internet users insist that employees of the organization catch the bear and examine, determining whether everything is in order with him. If the animal is truly crippled, specialists should treat it and possibly provide it with prostheses. The group even raised twenty-two thousand dollars to help the injured bear.
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It is noteworthy that Pedals was mistaken for a man in a bear costume several times. Once an eleven-year-old girl almost came close to the animal, noticing the animal near her house and believing that it was her animator father in another image. Residents of Oak Ridge fear the baribal could be dangerous and are urging authorities to deal with the bear.
The management of the nonprofit Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York, says they are ready to take care of Pedals, but someone must put the bear to sleep and deliver it to them - safe and sound, before it causes trouble …
