Purple Polar Bear

[Durandal7]

I found these to be rather interesting images. Apparently at a South American zoo a polar bear had to be treated for a skin disorder. The medicine somehow turned the polar bear a shocking purple color.

Just what was in that medicine?

For more pics head over to Yahoo (photos courtesy of Reuters) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/030718/170/4q3bu.html&e=6&ncid=1756

 

[maradong]

bs ?

because if all the hair is pink, the treatement has to go very long.
and the color would probably not be as regularly over all the body. ?!

 

[pauld]

I think this is even better..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3084053.stm

 

[eyelikeart]

ha...after your Sega game box fiasco...I'm calling b.s. on this one...

 

[MrMacMan]

What is the world coming to?

 

[maradong]

obviously pink polarbears ;-)

 

[Mr. Anderson]

After eye's comment and simple search on google got me tons of links to the story - most not in english.

But it also got me another pic - looks like this is real. Weirdness....

D

 

[iJon]

haha that is awesome. i hope it just effects his skin color and nothing more.

iJon

 

[WinterMute]

Someone dyed a polar bear, awesome

There'd be no point him covering up his nose in the snow so the seals couldn't see him now would there?

They are probably dipping him like they do sheep, that stuff is a funny colour too.

Although that begs the question, how does one "dip" a massive, vicious predator?

 

[pauld]

as I said, this is much cooler...

 

[wdlove]

Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
After eye's comment and simple search on google got me tons of links to the story - most not in english.

But it also got me another pic - looks like this is real. Weirdness....

D

I think that the violet color of the dye makes the polar bear look cute. It might be gentian violet used to treat fungal infections!

http://www.genesishealth.com/micromedex/altmedgen/ame0230.aspx

 

[rueyeet]

Originally posted by WinterMute
Although that begs the question, how does one "dip" a massive, vicious predator?

Why, very, verrry carefully, of course.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[jayscheuerle]

Not to be observant, but...

Did anyone else notice that the bars on the right of the cage (in the first photo) are purple too?

That would indicate either a Photoshop job or a dye job that rubbed off, not an internal medicine...

 

[bennetsaysargh]

that's kinda freaky. i hope little kids don't remeber all polar bears to be purple

 

[Kwyjibo]

hmm
I can just hear the little kids at the zoo now

"but mommy i want to see the blue bear not the purple one and throws a fit"

 

[Durandal7]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
ha...after your Sega game box fiasco...I'm calling b.s. on this one...

No BS, just psychadelic bears

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Re: Not to be observant, but...

Originally posted by jayscheuerle
Did anyone else notice that the bars on the right of the cage (in the first photo) are purple too?

That would indicate either a Photoshop job or a dye job that rubbed off, not an internal medicine...

Its not internal - its an external application for the bears skin.

But that was a little odd, so I went looking for other pics - thats why I posted the second one - which indicates its not a fake.

D

 

[Durandal7]

Reportedly the polar bear has increased visitors to the zoo by 50%.
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_801020.html?menu=news.latestheadlines

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Durandal7
Reportedly the polar bear has increased visitors to the zoo by 50%.

Anyone ever see the movie Fierce Creatures? It was a bit of a reunion film for the cast of A Fish Called Wanda.

They were trying to get more people to come to the zoo, this would have been perfect.

I only hope no one else gets the same idea in other zoos.....

D

 

[eyelikeart]

A bear that looks like Barney...creepy...

That color is so intense too! I wonder if this has happened to any other animals before? If so, allergic reaction?

 

[medea]

imagine coming across one of those things in the wild, having your ass handed to you by a big purple polar bear.....
my question is did they not know that the medicine would turn the coat purple? seems like maybe it's a publicity stunt, and it worked apparently by upping the zoo admissions already by 50%.

 

[Capt Underpants]

That purple bear is so cute . Makes me want to make up a song about him. How about:

He's a two eyed, no horned, walking purple penguin eater (repeat as many times as you want). It could even be a rather simple tongue twister .

Pretty good, huh? Well I know they really eat seals, but for the sake of the song I had to sacrifice the validity of the information.

 

[wdlove]

I hope that the extra income from the 50% increase in admissions will go to help all the animals. If it is Gentian Violet that is why they have the purple color!

 

[Sun Baked]

Look's like the purple dye to treat the skin infection is the likely winner. At least it wasn't something natural.

That Pia Bischoff's green haired cat from way back was really freaky, with them showing that the fur was really growing in green in the hair follicles of the kitten.

Green Cat

 

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
Look's like the purple dye to treat the skin infection is the likely winner. At least it wasn't something natural.

That Pia Bischoff's green haired cat from way back was really freaky, with them showing that the fur was really growing in green in the hair follicles of the kitten.

Green Cat

that's freaky! i want a blue cat