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Zoo Will Raise Polar Bear Cub After All
Officials reverse 'hands-off' policy when mother bear acts up
By Rob Quinn
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Posted Jan 9, 08 9:17 AM CST
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(Newser)
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The Nuremberg Zoo has reversed its wildly unpopular policy against hand-rearing polar bear cubs, reports Der Speigel. The zoo took the remaining cub away from its mother yesterday after she appeared nervous and started walking around her enclosure with the tiny animal in her mouth. Two other cubs died and were apparently eaten by their mother earlier this week, after the zoo refused to intervene.
Officials had hoped to avoid the media circus that surrounded the hand-rearing of Berlin Zoo cub Knut; their change of heart was reluctant. "It makes one want to cry to see that the mother had so far been bringing the cup up perfectly and now has to give up," said the zoo's director. The mother, Vera, was apparently spooked by a crowd of news crews, including a photographer who climbed the fence to get a better shot.