This bear is so rare only a handful of sightings have been confirmed in the wild — and no one can say for sure how many even exist. Sadly, earlier this month, one of these majestic beasts was shot and killed in Canada by a 25-year-old hunter.

It’s known as a “pizzly” or “grolar” bear, and is so rare only a handful of sightings have been confirmed in the wild. According to zoologists, few believed this hybrid grizzly-polar bear even existed in the wild at all until about 10 years ago when one was spotted in Alaska.

According to several media outlets, the bear was killed while he was resting after a day-long search for food.

Imgur

“It looks like a polar bear but it’s got brown paws and big claws like a grizzly,” one expert told the Guardian. “And the shape of a grizzly head.”

Imgur

DNA samples from the bear have been sent out for testing, but zoologists think they already know what the results will say.

“I think it’s 99 per cent sure that it’s going to turn out to be a hybrid,” Ian Stirling, an emeritus research scientist with Environment Canada, told reporters.

While The Toronto Star reports that the bear was legally killed as part of a program that allows people to practice subsistence hunting, thousands have reacted with outrage on social media.

What do you think about this?

Continue Reading