Japan Zoo's Polar Bears Turning Green

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:23:33 +0000
Amy Beeman - AHN

Tokyo, Japan (AHN) -- Polar bears at the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in central Japan are turning green.

The phenomenon has a logical reason though, which is that the pond they swim in gathers harmless algae in the warm months, which adhere to the hollow places in a polar bear's fur. According to Associated Press, the algae is also more abundant that usual because the pond water is being changed less often due to conservation efforts.

Zoo officials told reporters that the color will go away when the algae does, which will be about November when the weather cools.

A Singapore zoo had the same problem in 2004, however they treated the bear's fur with a hydrogen-peroxide solution to get it back to white.

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