Hank the Tank weighs twice as much as male black bears often do. Photo: Bear League's Facebook
Hank the Tank weighs twice as much as male black bears often do. Photo: Bear League's Facebook
Hank the Tank weighs twice as much as male black bears often do. Photo: Bear League's Facebook
Hank the Tank weighs twice as much as male black bears often do. Photo: Bear League's Facebook

'Hank the Tank': Overweight bear breaks into California homes


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An overweight black bear nicknamed "Hank the Tank" is gaining international fame following a series of break-ins across a California mountain town that has pitted authorities against bear-supporting locals.

Hank, who has been feasting on rubbish and carelessly disposed human food, is estimated to tip the scales at about 225 kilograms, much heavier than normal for male black bears in the western US, where they usually max out at about 135kg.

Over the weekend, Hank broke into a home by squeezing through a small window, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department said on Facebook.

"This bear did not break into a garage where trash was kept that he was sniffing out. He broke into a secured home, through the small window in the photo, and somehow squeezed inside," police said.

"It's not very nice to break people's property!! We want them to go back to their homes in the forest."

The aftermath of a Hank the Tank break in. Photo: South Lake Tahoe Police Department
The aftermath of a Hank the Tank break in. Photo: South Lake Tahoe Police Department

The bear has been rummaging for food in South Lake Tahoe since last summer. The resort city in the Sierra Nevada mountains borders Nevada and overlooks the famous eponymously-named lake.

American black bears are the most common bear in North America. They are smaller and less aggressive than their grizzly cousins, but often come into contact with humans living near wild areas and are frequently drawn by the smell of rubbish and food.

Peter Tira, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the New York Times that authorities have tried to scare Hank away by firing paintballs at him and using other non-lethal deterrents, but the lure of human food has failed to keep him away for long.

“It’s easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest,” Mr Tira told the Times.

“This is a bear that has lost all fear of people ... It’s a potentially dangerous situation.”

Authorities have said the giant bear should be trapped and might need to be euthanised, worried that relocating it might just move the problem to another area.

Many locals and observers from around the world are aghast that Hank's days might be numbered.

A bear advocacy group called the Bear League says it has offers from multiple bear sanctuaries to house the ursine.

"Everyone is expressing their horror over the plans to kill Hank," Bear League said on Facebook.

"We haven’t talk to or heard from a single person who thinks the bear deserves to die. After all, he is only answering the ring of the dinner bell, as all bears do."

A Twitter campaign called #savehankthetank was gaining popularity on Monday, with users calling for the bear's survival.

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Updated: February 21, 2022, 9:45 PM`