BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)

Subject: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: Alice
Date: 31 May 10 - 09:43 PM

I saw this report on CNN of a bear in a zoo in Japan who plays with a stick, twirling it, throwing it in the air and catching it... he now has the nickname of "Kung Fu" Bear.

CNN called the zoo and they verified that the video is real and the bear does play with the stick like that.

I found the original video on You Tube.
Poor bear, he is probably bored stuck in the zoo!
kung fu bear unedited footage

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 10:43 AM

Poor Old Bear !!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 11:00 AM

I enjoyed watch for a bit, but I can't stand to see animals locked up like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 11:14 AM

You are imposing your own values. The bear may not care a bit.

No doubt this bear is a young female, and somehow it has been able to watch TV. Baton twirling is very big in Japan, as you can see if you go to YouTube and search for 'baton twirl, Japan'

Here is a good example you can cut and paste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swSiKd6mmf0&feature=related

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 11:20 AM

I could probably do that if I tried. It has just never occurred to me to try.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 01:52 PM

I don't see why it would have had to see tv to do this; boredom would surely be the mother of invention in this case? Just speculating. I had a friend who worked at a zoo. She finally convinced me some of them are quite humane and necessary in that they help to promote rare and dwindling species, even growing their numbers through exchange breedings, etc. I think the best are those which are humongous and in which the people have to be in the cages, i.e. buses/tour vehicles.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Twirling Baton (video)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 10:50 PM

I was just kidding about the TV. It's a funny coincidence that the bear took up baton twirling in a country where twirling is still going on.

Some of those twirlers are absolutely amazing. They send the baton 30-40 feet in the air, do a few acrobatics, then reach out a hand and the baton is right there, still spinning.