When Your Pet Isn't What You Expected

Su Yun, a resident of a village outside Kunming city in Yunnan, China, adopted what she thought was a Tibetan Mastiff puppy during a vacation in 2016. However, as the puppy grew, she realized it was something else entirely.

A Tibetan Mastiff is a giant dog with thick black-brown fur. Males can weigh up to 70 kilograms, which did not raise any suspicions initially. However, Su Yun noted she was surprised by her pet's huge appetite, consuming a box of fruit and two buckets of noodles daily.

After two years, Su Yun's "dog" grew to 115 kilograms and kept growing. It did not immediately raise any concerns until the gigantic "dog" began walking on two legs. "The larger it grew, the more it looked like a bear," Su Yun told Chinese media.

Su Yun realized she was likely caring for a bear, not a dog, and approached authorities, who quickly confirmed it was an Asian black bear, a vulnerable species at risk of extinction.

An Asian black bear can weigh up to 180 kilograms and measure 130 to 190 centimeters in length. Su Yun's bear, who lived with her at home since its adoption, was relocated to the Yunnan Wildlife Rescue Center. The transfer was carried out after sedation, as the team was wary of interacting with a fully alert bear.

Reports indicate that the bear, once thought to be a dog, is now living a healthy life in its new home.