1ZlowZ
09-08-2008, 04:20 PM
TOKYO - Green polar bears are drawing questions from puzzled visitors at a Japanese zoo.
http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=k2RkBUWTVvomwa_ESI5gywZ8R6X.9EjFpCAABpi9&T=18pkai28r%2fX%3d1220912160%2fE%3d89014318%2fR%3d news%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3dH%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d2 744736488%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PS J3aGl0ZTtyZWZ1cmxfd3d3X3lhaG9vX2NvbSIgcmVmdXJsPSJy ZWZ1cmxfd3d3X3lhaG9vX2NvbSIgdG9waWNzPSJyZWZ1cmxfd3 d3X3lhaG9vX2NvbSI-%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d97519345&U=13fmh0bdu%2fN%3dz2.zAdj8fXw-%2fC%3d634804.11972902.12732124.1442997%2fD%3dLREC %2fB%3d5247217%2fV%3d1
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.
Algae-dyed polar bears puzzle Japan zoo visitors - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080907/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_green_bears)
http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=k2RkBUWTVvomwa_ESI5gywZ8R6X.9EjFpCAABpi9&T=18pkai28r%2fX%3d1220912160%2fE%3d89014318%2fR%3d news%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3dH%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d2 744736488%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PS J3aGl0ZTtyZWZ1cmxfd3d3X3lhaG9vX2NvbSIgcmVmdXJsPSJy ZWZ1cmxfd3d3X3lhaG9vX2NvbSIgdG9waWNzPSJyZWZ1cmxfd3 d3X3lhaG9vX2NvbSI-%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d97519345&U=13fmh0bdu%2fN%3dz2.zAdj8fXw-%2fC%3d634804.11972902.12732124.1442997%2fD%3dLREC %2fB%3d5247217%2fV%3d1
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.
Algae-dyed polar bears puzzle Japan zoo visitors - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080907/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_green_bears)