Knut The Polar Bear On Suicide Watch
POLAR Bear Watch: Anorak’s look at polar bears in the news…
KNUT, the German polar bear the Guardian calls an “activist” for global warming, is alive. But his former keeper is not. Thomas Doerflein has died.
THE INDEPENDENT reports: “Love story: Knut mourns his keeper”. Or as the experts put it:
Berlin Zoo yesterday categorically ruled out suggestions that Knut would experience feelings of loss as a result of his keeper’s passing. “It won’t be a problem for him,” said Klaus Lüdcke, a Berlin zoologist, “Knut has been looked after by a whole team – and for him the most important person is the one who brings the food.”
And Doerflein: “He said that he could wish the bear no better first-birthday present than permanent separation.”
Still, the Guardian’s love story needs a pair of star-crossed lovers, so the talk is of suicide (unfounded) - watch Knut and those pills - and broken hearts.
THE MIRROR: “Knut keeper Thomas Doerflein is found dead after being banned from his bear cub ’son’”…
Knut is a polar bear…
September 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
It’s still sad though.
They grow up so quickly…
September 24th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Bottle fed orphaned bear cubs do indeed form lifelong deep bonds of trust and affection with their human parents. Buffy the Black Bear, 24+ years old and Bart the Kodiak Bear, who lived with his adoring human father for over 23 years are excellent examples. Both were regarded as big kids by their human parents. Precious Knut is highly intelligent and emotionally complex and sensitive, which is more than I can say for many zoologists. It would be great if these zoo staff members would spend more time learning about these magnificent animals. Recent studies show bears to be as intelligent as the great apes and emotionally complex. Precious Knut has shown that he has missed his beloved Daddy when he was on vacation and more recently out sick. He needs lots of special toys and treats and especially a jute sack pillow to snuggle with while he is adjusting to Mr. Doerflein’s future absence. His fans have sent him lots of toys and treats in the past. I know I have sent several checks to beloved Mr. Doerflein for treats and toys and he sure could use them now as well. I ordered him a cute zoo toy “inner tube” recently for small bears but it looked too small and I was afraid it woud get stuck on his head so I donated it to a US bear sanctuary where I was told the black bear cubs enjoy playing with it (Oswald’s Bear Ranch).
Submitted by: Karen V. Stefanini, One of Knut’s Many Across the Atlantic Aunties