'Puppies' adopted by Chinese man turn out to be Asian black bears

KUNMING, China, July 6 (UPI) -- A Chinese man turned his pets over an animal rescue group after the two "puppies" he adopted two years ago grew up to be Asian black bears.

Wang Kayui of Yunnan Province said he adopted the two "puppies" from Vietnam about two years ago and when the animals began to grow he discovered they were actually bears.

Wang said the animals were very well behaved and he kept them at his home until he recently saw a leaflet about endangered animals from the local Public Security Bureau and discovered his pets were Asian black bears, a Category 2 protected species.

The bears were taken June 30 to the Yunnan Wild Animal Rescue Center, where officials confirmed they were male and female Asian black bears, also known as moon bears. A spokesman for the center said both animals were in good health.