San Diego Zoo has insisted that its sick-looking polar bear is fine and just in the throes of mating season after concerns were raised about the animal’s health. 

A TikTok video with nearly 5million views showed Kalluk, a 22-year-old polar bear, looking sad and disheveled.

The large animal was seen salivating and appeared to have trouble keeping his head up as he shut his eyes while lounging inside the enclosure. 

‘Came to the zoo and ended up leaving sad because of this guy,’ the video read. 

Many took to the comments to wonder if the bear was ‘dying’ and encouraged others to call the zoo to complain about Kalluk’s treatment. 

However, the zoo released a response video, aiming to allay such fears. 

They argued that it was normal behavior for a polar bear during mating season as he is more preoccupied with ‘impressing the ladies’ than eating or being super energized. 

‘You may see him paying more attention to Chinook than to his snacks, and that’s completely normal,’ the narrator said. ‘Food takes takes a backseat for now, but his care team is always there to ensure he stays healthy and strong.’ 

A TikTok video with nearly 5million views sparked concerns for Kalluk, a polar bear living at the zoo, after he appeared to sad and disheveled 

The zoo released a response video saying Kalluk was perfectly fine. They argued this was normal behavior for a polar bear during mating season

They also responded to the concern the bear was salivating too much, but zookeepers said ‘that’s just part of the effort he’s putting in’

They also responded to the concern the bear was salivating too much, but zookeepers said ‘that’s just part of the effort he’s putting in.’ 

‘Male polar bears naturally burn more energy and eat less during this time, so he might look a bit slimmer, but that’s all part of the process,’ the video explained. 

In response to those who said polar bears should not be in the warm climate because it is not their natural habitat, the zoo reassured fans that Kalluk and his two friends have chilled aquatic environments to keep them happy. 

Polar Bears International, a nonprofit group, said male bears will ’emaciate themselves’ as part of a hormonal change. 

‘It’s definitely a kind of hormonal takeover in terms of prioritizing how they spend their time. “Should I eat, or should I find a mate?” It seems like in certain times of the spring, it’s mate, mate, mate,’ Geoff York, senior director of research and policy for Polar Bears International, said. 

Males are guided by scents left behind from female bears’ paw prints that indicate they are in estrus, a recurring period of sexual receptivity.