Thomas Doerflein, the zookeeper who hand raised him, died suddenly in 2008. They meet at the rainbow bridge today.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42166988/ns/world_news-europe/
What?! He was only like a couple years old!
Awww, that's so sad. Makes me wonder if he didn't have some congenital condition which may be why his mother rejected him.
Happy trails, Knut.
You could be right, Kett. Mother Nature is a lot smarter than we give Her credit for, those of us that bother to even listen to Her. He was a really cute cub though (aren't they all...). I didn't remember than his original keeper had died.
I (unfortunately) just saw the video of him dying and it really looks like he was having some neurological problems. He started spinning around lost body function and couldn't stay upright then fell over. It looks almost like he had a seizure. :'(
My heart broke when I read this and my first thought was the same as yours Lady Kett,
then I read another news brief on the BBC website that said PETA had been badgering the zoo for months to get Knut moved.
Apparently 3 female polar bears (including his mother) had been tormenting him to the point where he could barely get any food or time to relax.
I made a point not to watch the video of him dying, id have lost it at my desk.
Poor little guy. :'( A hard life. I'm glad he's passed on to a better place.