Tricky optical illusion hides large beast - but people are 'too blind' to spot it

Christine Younan & Lucy Farrell
·2-min read
European Brown Bear, Ursus arctos, Bavaria, Germany
A brown bear is well-hidden in the below optical illusion -Credit:Getty Images


A confusing optical illusion featuring a well-hidden animal has left brainteaser fans dumbfounded, suggesting that even those with the sharpest vision can still miss things.

Such puzzles are known to help bolster brain health, while also being entertaining and the latest fits this description - but may also require serious patience. The viral image which has been widely circulated on Reddit has garnered 12,000 upvotes and 1,400 comments - and it's easy to see why.

The photograph shows a busy forest landscape full of different types of trees and rolling trees. Featuring a largely brown colour palette, a bear of the same colour is lurking somewhere within - and the task is to find it - but this is not as easy as it sounds

The image was posted on the r/FindTheSniper subreddit with the intriguing caption: "Find the brown bear." Featured below, those who need a closer look can be clicked twice, which will allow you to zoom in and navigate across it.

At first glance, you might mistake the mountain shapes for the bear's face, but that would be incorrect, reports the Mirror. Take a closer look perhaps near the trees or at the bottom of the image - is the elusive animal hiding there?

If you're still struggling to spot the bear – here's a hint: it's cleverly camouflaged behind some branches at the bottom of the image.

Solving puzzles like this one can be quite the brain workout, pushing you out of your mental comfort zone. Kudos if you managed to find the bear!

Engaging with such challenges not only tests your observational skills but according to recent studies, can also help keep your brain young.

Research from the University of Exeter and King's College London has found that similar exercises can enhance adults' memory and improve brain function by a decade.

And while you're here, why not give another one a go? This optical illusion can identify a person's social abilities based on what they see first. Another challenges those with "attentive eyes" to spot a goat's owner in five seconds.

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