On Saturday afternoon, the much loved internationally famous Polar Bear Knut, who touched hearts across the world after being rejected by his mother and handraised by zoo keepers in 2007, was pronounced dead by bear keeper Heiner Kloes at Berlin zoo. Scientists announced yesterday that brain problems apparently caused the shockingly early death of Knut, Germany's four-year-old celebrity polar bear. However his final distressing moment, turning around erratically in circles, before falling into the water, has been caught on camera sadly for the world to see.
Polar Bears can live up to 30 years, and thus it is unusual for a polar bear in captivity to die so young. He was just four years, old, the polar bear equivalent of an 18 year old human.
Because of the rejection by his mother and subsequent close relationship with his keeper, baby Knut became a celebrity, with his every move being documented by TV crews, he was the centre of a mass media phenomenon, spawning toys, t-shirts, DVDs and being featured on the cover of several magazines as well as increasing the Berlin Zoo's profile and revenue by five million euros. Even MSE visited Knut when we were in Berlin in 2010, when he appeared to be a picture of health.
His being raised by hand did enchant everyone though, he drew significant controversy from human rights activists who claimed that he ought have been put down, rather than raised as a domestic pet. This however, only increased support & adoration for him from his legions of fans. Following on from his death though, the BBC have questioned whether or not it was his hand rearing led to inevitable behavioural problems.
In recognition of his superstar status Berlin Zoo have announced that they would like to stuff and mount Knuts body for display in the Berlin Natural History Museum. More than 15,000 Knut fans have so far paid tribute to him on Berlin zoo's website and many have expressed outrage at the decision to display him at the museum, demanding a worthy burial for the creature they hold so dear.
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