Bears are animals not known for being clever but this conventional wisdom is often defied by zoologists. Stories of bears fishing for salmon in the wild or doing tricks in captivity simply add to the zoologists' claims.

The story of three bears in Korea certainly won't take away from them.

According to officials at Taekyeong College in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, three young bears have been trained to ride around the campus on skateboards.

The two male bears and one female are all eight to nine months old.

When students start to come to class in the morning, the three ride on the skateboards with two front legs up, one hind leg on board and the other kicking the ground.

The three have been trained by a group of students with the help of specialists.

Their morning ritual is greeted enthusiastically by the students.

Sometimes, the bears follow their "master" students into lecture rooms but few mind their presence or take it as an interruption.

School authorities say that the three bears were transferred to the school to help students majoring in animal training six months ago from their home in Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

The three bears are under constant care by the students, undergoing daily checkups on their health.

"They like to intermingle with students," Kim Sol-hwa, a student, was quoted as saying. "I bet they enjoy their freedom rather than being in a cage or confined to a limited park."

The school also has parrots, monkeys and other animals to help students in their course work.

The school is planning to stage a performance involving about 20 animals including the three bears for about 20 kindergarten children and visually-challenged people.

foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr