Three polar bears at Nagoya zoo in central Japan turned green this summer from swimming in a pond infested with algae. The zoo staff had been changing the water less frequently to save resources, and the hot weather had induced algae overgrowth in the pond and safety moat. The same thing happened at Singapore Zoo four years ago, and at the San Diego Zoo back in 1979. 
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You sure it's not paint so a certain hockey-mom can shoot them more easily from a helicopter?
that's wolves. Polar bears she drowns.
I wonder if this will be more common in the wild as their habitats warm and become exposed to algae
Zoos. The only place you are going to see polar bears in 10 years. Sarah Palin doesn't believe they should be on the "endangered list". Willful ignorance is inexcusable.
That's not a polar bear. Polar bears live in the arctic, that's a genetic sample being poorly treated.
SF zoo
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EnClsPfQ3j-9triBsg3YnQ?select=9kFzMxT7BGH7DPaLwye-iA
a little bleach solved the problem
I will miss Polar Bears....
Another reason to take these slimy green monsters off the endangered species list. Ick, good riddance!
Paint a clover on their chest and you've got Good Luck Bear of the Care Bears!
i, for one, welcome our green ursine overlords!
#2: Am I the only one who wants to equip the wolves with Stinger missiles?
a rifle bullet into the rotors would do
Great headline :-D
Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago Area has had these lucky bears for years. They say that the algae grows inside the hair shafts...
Their hairs are hollow and transparent, their skin is black...
light pipe hair
Looks like an improvement to me, but I have a bias
"It's not that easy being green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold...
or something much more colorful like that."
--K.T.Frog
The three-toed sloth also has algae, but with those the algae is more normal a thing...rain-forest habitat, slow and arboreal, seems to me algae is more a three-toed sloth's speed and suits that creature better IMO.
But that's just me.
They're obviously switching to photosynthesis. It's evolution in action, baby!
The polar bears at the Tulsa Zoo were like this when I was a kid. I don't know if they still are. I think they've since got a fancier habitat.
most all polar bears in captivity are insane
What polar bear in his right mind would dye his fur green like that!?!
Great for St. Patty's Day!
Happened at the NY Central Park children's zoo back in the 60's. Info I got agrees with comments above: the hairs are hollow, for better insulating properties -- and given a hot climate and lots of sun, algae can happily take up residence therein. Doesn't seem to do the bear any harm, but it's unsightly. A bit of chlorine in the bears' bathing pool solved the problem (and was probably healthier for them in any case).
If I were that Polar Bear, I'd be rather pissed off that my coat turned green. It's just not an all over thing. The color is uneven and splotchy.
On the other hand, Chemists should take note. A billion-dollar industry awaits those who can churn out algae enhanced shampoo for those inbetween days when your not sure what color you want to be.
JIMH@22: Punk rock bears.
Takuan "most all polar bears in captivity are insane"
Try spending forty hours a week for thirty years in a cubicle staring at a screen. At least the bears get fish.
Unless the bears have chilled water to swim in the algae gets into and grows inside of the hollow hair shafts, turning most zoo bears at least pale green and turning some dark green like the above bear. If the zoo is in an area with a real winter season, with extended periods of below freezing weather, the algae'll die and the bears turn white again.
wow I really never thought this would happen...my boyfriend being right I mean. Not about the polar bears. He had told me one night when... well, he wasnt in a serious mood and said somthing about green polar bears and I just said he was a liar. Since he is the type to say stupid things to make me laugh that arnt true I never believed him. Now look at this! Green Polar Bears!
Personally, I think its funnt yet pretty. I would like to take a photo with one.