Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Zoo: Polar Bear Cubs Gone, Eaten by Mom

German zoo under fire after vowing not to interfere to save cubs

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:15 AM CST

(Newser) – Two polar bear cubs that captured Germany's attention have died, and the zoo thinks their mother ate them, Der Spiegel reports. The Nuremberg Zoo's decision not to interfere with the cubs' survival, despite reports that the mother might have been neglecting them, caused a storm of criticism, which is now likely to intensify. Zoo officials speculated that the cubs may have died from disease, saying in a statement, "We assume that Vilma took excellent care of her cubs until the end."

The zoo had been determined to avoid the media circus that surrounded the hand-rearing of Knut, the cub rejected by his mother in the Berlin Zoo last year. An animal welfare group called the Nuremberg Zoo's attitude "cynical" and argued that the cubs deserved a chance at life. A third polar bear cub born to another mother has been spotted and is said to be doing fine.

Polar bear 'Vera' chases a bird away from the food in front of her cave at the 'Tiergarten Nuernberg' zoo in Nuremberg, southern Germany, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. Vera had cubs recently and they're... (Associated Press)

Polar bear 'Vera' peers from the entrance to her cave at the 'Tiergarten Nuernberg' zoo in Nuremberg, southern Germany, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. According to the zoo's director Dag Enke, 'Vera' gave... (Associated Press)

Knut the polar bear receives some media attention as he celebrates his birthday. Officials had been determined to avoid the media circus that surrounding Knut's hand-rearing. A movie about Knut's life... (Getty Images)

Vera stands in front of her cave at the zoo in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. According to the zoo's director, Vera gave birth to at least one cub in mid December while Vilma gave birth... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Our No. 1 Gift to German Language in '11: 'Shitstorm'

Yep, really. A jury of German language experts picked it

(NEWSER) - Germans are better off because of America's pottymouth, at least according to a group of language experts who have named the biggest English contribution to the German language in 2011: "shitstorm." Yep, the "Anglicism of the Year" is a word that the experts say "fills a gap in the German vocabulary that has become apparent through changes in the culture of public debate." After all, Germans would previously have had to turn to more toothless terms like kritik (criticism) to express their emotions. More»

Islamic Extremist Gets Life for Killing 2 US Airmen

Arid Uka shot at servicemen in Frankfurt last year

(AP) - An Islamic extremist who killed two US airmen bound for Afghanistan at Frankfurt airport last year and injured two others was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison today. The state court in Frankfurt convicted 22-year-old Arid Uka of two counts of murder. It also found him guilty of three counts of attempted murder and serious bodily harm for wounding two other servicemen and taking aim at a third before his 9mm pistol jammed. More»

iPad, iPhone Ban Overturned

Motorola's patent infringement ruling in Germany doesn't last long

(NEWSER) - Apple's enormous profit machine stuttered momentarily in Germany today when Motorola enforced a patent infringement ruling against iPads and iPhones, banning their sale for a short time, the BBC reports. An appeals court yanked the ban after Apple made a new offer to license the patent. "A suspension like this is available only against a bond, but Apple is almost drowning in cash and obviously won't have had a problem with obtaining and posting a bond," wrote a patent consultant in his blog . More»

'Art' Urinals Spark Rolling Stones Museum Furor

Women slam mouth-shaped toilets as sexism

(NEWSER) - A war has broken out over urinals in a German museum. Women's rights activists are furious over the mouth-shaped men's toilets at the Rolling Stones museum in a northern town, Der Spiegel reports. "Why does it have to be a woman's mouth?" asked one, saying she would have accepted the urinals had they looked more like the Stones' tongue logo—but the toilets don't have tongues. The museum's founder defends his restroom: "That's not a man's mouth or a woman's mouth, that's art. They were damned expensive and they're staying where they are and that's final." More»

Czechs, Brits Reject Deal to Save EU Economy

Critics attack European Union's fiscal belt-tightening deal

(NEWSER) - The Czechs thought about it, and they said no. All other 27 EU member states except Britain agreed today to join a compact to impose budget discipline on fellow nations, the BBC reports. British Prime Minister David Cameron had already refused to take part, saying that ceding control of his country's budget is "not in my national interest." The Czech Republic, not yet in the euro, cited "constitutional reasons" for rejecting the treaty. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Zoo: Polar Bear Cubs Gone, Eaten by Mom

German zoo under fire after vowing not to interfere to save cubs

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

The cub controversy

Bears in trouble

Germany • polar bear • Nuremburg Zoo • animal

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Our No. 1 Gift to German Language in '11: 'Shitstorm'

Yep, really. A jury of German language experts picked it

Islamic Extremist Gets Life for Killing 2 US Airmen

Arid Uka shot at servicemen in Frankfurt last year

iPad, iPhone Ban Overturned

Motorola's patent infringement ruling in Germany doesn't last long

'Art' Urinals Spark Rolling Stones Museum Furor

Women slam mouth-shaped toilets as sexism

Czechs, Brits Reject Deal to Save EU Economy

Critics attack European Union's fiscal belt-tightening deal

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Zoo: Polar Bear Cubs Gone, Eaten by Mom

German zoo under fire after vowing not to interfere to save cubs

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

The cub controversy

Bears in trouble

Germany • polar bear • Nuremburg Zoo • animal

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Our No. 1 Gift to German Language in '11: 'Shitstorm'

Yep, really. A jury of German language experts picked it

Islamic Extremist Gets Life for Killing 2 US Airmen

Arid Uka shot at servicemen in Frankfurt last year

iPad, iPhone Ban Overturned

Motorola's patent infringement ruling in Germany doesn't last long

'Art' Urinals Spark Rolling Stones Museum Furor

Women slam mouth-shaped toilets as sexism

Czechs, Brits Reject Deal to Save EU Economy

Critics attack European Union's fiscal belt-tightening deal

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?