General Discussions

**edgray** · 03-21-2011, 06:56 AM

I don't know if any of you had been following the story of Knut, the polar bear abandoned by it's mother and raised at Berlin Zoo?

The poor Knut, the cutest little thing, grew up into a healthy adult, but died unexpectedly over the weekend... so sad, it was amazing to see a beautiful creature raised well in captivity.

As a cute baby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBLizhD_0R4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_(polar_bear)

RIP Knut <3

**Giselle** · 03-21-2011, 11:52 AM

What a cutie! And what shame!

No I hadn't heard about Knut, appreciate you sharing the links. After hand raising the polar bear for four years and he dies, I wonder why, the article didn't mention anything about Knut being sick beforehand, outside of his left leg shaking. Very very sad!

**benicio** · 03-21-2011, 05:30 PM

maybe he's just too old and that he died naturally.

**GabGab** · 03-22-2011, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giselle

What a cutie! And what shame!

No I hadn't heard about Knut, appreciate you sharing the links. After hand raising the polar bear for four years and he dies, I wonder why, the article didn't mention anything about Knut being sick beforehand, outside of his left leg shaking. Very very sad!

Quote:

Originally Posted by benicio

maybe he's just too old and that he died naturally.

Polar bears have an average lifespan of 15-18 years in the wild and even longer (about mid 30s) in captivity. Knut died at the age of 4.

**edgray** · 03-22-2011, 04:05 PM

He was such an adorable little fella.

Wikipedia now reads:

Quote:

On 19 March 2011, Knut collapsed and died in his enclosure at the age of four.[49] Witnesses reported that after the bear's rear left leg began shaking, he became agitated before convulsing several times and falling backwards into the water. He drowned before zookeepers could reach him.[50] Approximately 600 to 700 zoo visitors witnessed Knut's death.[51] The cause of death has yet to be fully determined (in captivity polar bears can live for 30 years[52]), but a statement made on 22 March in relation to an ongoing necropsy reported there were "significant changes in the brain, which may be regarded as a reason for the sudden death".