The chupacabra has been terrifying farmers around Latin America for the last 20 years. The chupacabra translates to, “goat-sucker” because it reportedly attacks and eats livestock. The size and strength vary with encounters in countries like Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chile, even in states like Maine, and Texas. The fear of this terrifying animal has spread to countries like Russia and Philippines where an unknown or unrecognized wildlife is automatically assumed to be the chupacabra. University of Michigan biologist Barry O’Connor said the sightings of the chupacabra was nothing more than coyotes infected with the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei, that gave it the alien-like appearance.The creature was hairless, emaciated, and didn’t appear to be a local or known animal.
The animal looked weak and scared when it was found in an oil palm plantation.
“We were shocked. None of us has ever seen such thing. One of us then hit the animal until it appeared to have passed out,” Herman Tutu said.
Aside from thinking the creature was a chupacabra others compared it to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.
After the animal regained consciousness it was allowed back into the forest.
A healthy and strong sun bear usually weighs anywhere from 60 to 150 pounds and has fur.
This animal is considered to be vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The journal PLOS ONE published an alarming report where it found that in just four decades Borneo had lost a third of its tropical rainforest to fire, logging, and clearing the land for oil palm plantations.
According to the report “between 1980 and 2000 more round wood was harvested from Borneo than from Africa and the Amazon combined.”
Poachers hunt these animals for their gall bladders as it is believe they contain medicinal properties despite being disproved by the scientific community.
It is also considered to be one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that in Borneo alone has 44 mammals, 37 birds, and 19 fish and amphibians endemic to this area, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.
Not only is their habitat being destroyed the mothers are often killed for the cubs to be sold to other parts of Asia.
Hunting and killing sun bears is illegal but the law is hardly enforced.
They are stocky with long claws and can grow up to five feet tall.
The sun bear is also referred to as the honey bear.
“The bear is in a good and safe place,” says Nickson Robi from SFC. “She has eaten the food and drank the water we gave. But she still is hairless and sick, and we need to find out what the sickness is.”
When a team from SFC went searching for the bear they found her to be aggressive and scared.
She will be released back in to the wild once she is ready.
Veterinarian Silje Robertsen said the animal was suffering with skin infection, mite infestation, and anemia.
“As of today, the animal is alert, able to climb and to eat normally,” an SFC spokesperson said.
SFC said they didn’t know whether the sun bear was living in the wild or used to be a pet that was abandoned when it got sick.
She is eating a lot of mushy food to ease the pain of chewing.
Although her vets are still waiting to see her make a full recovery before deciding what is best for her.
Despite being called sun bears, these are nocturnal animals.
->**Watch the video showing the sun bear trying to escape from humans.**<-