New Cub a Web Sensation

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• Knut Needed Hug: Zoo Intruder

  Dec 22, 08 1:05 PM CST
  A German man says he climbed over a Berlin Zoo barrier today because the polar bear needed a hug, Bloomberg reports. The unidentified man, 37, apparently believed the animal—which drew 3.2 million visitors last year—was lonely. “He wanted to keep Knut company,” police said. Knut, abandoned as a cub, was once offered a movie deal and graced the cover of Vanity Fair. More »

• Berlin May Lose Knut to Rival

  Dec 3, 08 11:50 AM CST
  The world's favorite polar bear may be bidding auf wiedersehen to the Berlin Zoo. Cuddly tourist attraction Knut actually belongs to the north German zoo his father came from, and a move is expected in the first half of 2009. "We entered into a contract which stated that the first surviving cub is owned by Neumuenster Zoo," said the Berlin Zoo's director. But Berlin officials want to keep Knut—and the extra $6.3 million he pulled in last year, the BBC reports.
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• Aha! Zoo Bears Won't Mate Because Both Are Female

  Nov 26, 08 1:36 PM CST
  A Japanese zoo is learning it might want to check the plumbing more closely the next time it acquires a polar bear cub, CNN reports. Tsuyoshi was brought to the Kushiro Zoo to breed with 11-year-old Kurumi. But when the cub reached reproductive age, he turned out to be she, which explained why Tsuyoshi wasn't making a move on “his” older lady. More »

• Panda Bites Student Who Tries to Cuddle

  Nov 22, 08 4:22 PM CST
  A student who tried to hug a panda in China yesterday got some tough love instead, BBC reports. Officials say the man, 20, climbed into the pen of Yang Yang at the Qixing Park zoo to cuddle. But the frightened bear bit him on the arms and legs. "Yang Yang was so cute," the student said later. He underwent surgery and is expected to recover after a few days in hospital.
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• Liger Mauls Handler to Death

  Oct 31, 08 12:54 PM CDT
  An animal handler at an Oklahoma refuge died yesterday after being attacked by a liger—a hybrid of a lion and a tiger—during the animal’s feeding Wednesday, the Tulsa World reports. Safari’s Animal Sanctuary in suburban Broken Arrow will launch an investigation into whether volunteer Peter Getz, 32, broke safety protocols by opening the liger’s cage during feeding. More »