A video of a female zookeeper from Wuhan Wildlife Park "wrestling" with a brown bear has gone viral. In the footage, the zookeeper can be seen pushing and grappling with the bear, eventually knocking it down with her bare hands and subduing it with a "throat-lock" move.

The zookeeper, identified as Cai Ruting, works as a cub caretaker at Wuhan Wildlife Kingdom. She shares a strong bond with the bear, nicknamed Zai Zai, whom she has raised since it was a cub. The "wrestling" seen in the video is actually part of their routine playtime and serves as a form of training.

Cai explained that this playful interaction helps train Zai Zai to better adapt to life in the larger bear enclosure. She noted that Zai Zai never uses full force during their play, while she relies on "clever techniques" rather than brute strength.

Cai fondly recalled that Zai Zai weighed only 600 grams at birth and was in poor health. She cared for the cub around the clock, watching it grow into a strong brown bear. Now just over a year old, Zai Zai weighs nearly 200 pounds.

The management at Wuhan Wildlife Kingdom emphasised their commitment to animal safety and welfare. They acknowledged the bond and training purposes behind Cai and Zai Zai's interactions, ensuring that such activities are conducted in a safe environment under close supervision.