Convinced he saw a polar bear jumping between cars in the Santa Catarina Midwest area, the man called the military police on 190 to ask for help. The episode went viral on the internet and received many humorous comments.

The man said he saw a polar bear that was actually a sheep – Photo: Archive/Dmitry Kokh/Disclosure/ND

In the recording of a call to the military police, a local resident spoke in a firm and realistic voice about what he had witnessed. “I’m coming from Curitibanos and I don’t know if there was a circus in the city, but the bear is jumping on cars on the northern entrance.” Surprised by the unusual call, the police officers quickly transferred the garrison to the indicated place.

However, upon arriving at the scene, the police soon realized that the alleged “polar bear” was in fact a large sheep. The mistake of a resident confusing a sheep with a rare wild animal has become a source of humor on social media and prompted a series of joking comments from Internet users.

The hilarious and harmless episode caught the attention of netizens and became the topic of a podcast on the Caixa Preta TikTok profile, racking up nearly 1 million views. Netizens’ comments ranged from joking to understanding, with one netizen joking, “It’s called myopia and astigmatism, I see weird things all the time,” and another, “I knew it was cold, but not all.”

While the initial panic may have been laughable, it’s important to note that in the event of wildlife sightings or emergencies, contacting the authorities is the right thing to do. The security forces are prepared to act in such situations safely and responsibly.

@tiktokcaixapreta

I saw a polar bear ????‍❄️ in Santa Catarina ???????? #bear #polar #sheep #santa #sc #santacatarina #lages

♬ original sound – Black Box

Understanding the polar bear

White bears (Ursus maritime) carnivorous mammals belonging to the bear family (bearish). They are iconic animals and are well known for their adaptation to arctic and subarctic environments as they are considered the largest terrestrial predators in existence.

A man calls the police when he sees a “polar bear” in South Carolina – Photo: reproduction / National Geographic Brasil / ND

Physical characteristics:

• Polar bears have thick, dense coats that help keep them warm in very cold conditions. The coat is white, which gives them excellent camouflage in the midst of icy and snowy landscapes.
• Their bodies are strong and muscular, with strong limbs and sharp claws that aid them in locomotion and hunting.
• They have a very thick layer of subcutaneous fat, which serves as thermal insulation and an energy reserve during prolonged fasting.
• The snout is long and they have a well-developed sense of smell and hearing, characteristics that are useful for detecting prey and dangers in the environment.

Habits and habitat:

• Polar bears are mostly solitary animals, but sometimes they can be seen in small groups, especially during the mating season or when food is plentiful.
• Its natural range covers arctic regions including parts of Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway.
• They are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances at sea in search of food such as seals and other marine mammals.
• They are considered animals well adapted to ice and extreme cold, and have a number of physiological and behavioral characteristics that allow them to survive in such an inhospitable environment.

Threats and Conservation:

• Polar bears face significant challenges due to climate change and ice loss in the Arctic. Melting sea ice is affecting their habitat and prey availability, negatively impacting their populations.
• Because of these threats, polar bears are classified as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list. Efforts are being made to conserve their habitat and ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures into the uncertain future.

Polar bears play a critical role in balancing the Arctic ecosystems and are considered a symbol of the northern polar wildlife, drawing interest and admiration from people all over the world.