• Andy Duann/CU Independent
    32 of 51

    BEAR DOWN

    When a courageous and curious bear ventured up a tree, he had no idea he'd win the Internet last September. The hilarious photo of a big brown bear falling onto a mattress-like pad produced meme after meme, until everyone on the Web was talking about him. However, the actual situation was no laughing matter — the bear had been tranquilized and dropped onto a cushion to be removed. Still, he became one of the most memorable animals of 2012.