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Knut Will Stay in Berlin

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Berlin Zoo’s prized polar bear, Knut, isn’t going anywhere, Der Spiegel reports. Officials there will pay $600,000 to a rival zoo to settle an ownership dispute. Given Knut's bankability as a bona fide world star, it's a bargain. The bear, not yet 3 years old, is estimated to have brought the Berlin zoo $7.4 million since his birth. His image and trademark are worth an estimated $8.3 million.

Knut sniffs at his birthday presents in the zoo in Berlin last December. (AP Photo)

Polar bear Knut plays with an old rotten soccer ball in May. (AP Photo)

Knut, the polar bear cub, has his first public appearance at the Berlin Zoo. (AP Photo)

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Knut's Zoo Loses 2nd Animal

Six-year-old elephant Shaina Pali dies unexpectedly

(NEWSER) - Just two weeks after the Berlin Zoo lost star polar bear Knut, a second young animal has died. Indian elephant Shaina Pali died early today at age six—well short of the 80 years elephants can live in captivity, reports the AP. The zoo's vet thinks an infection is to blame, but a necropsy is scheduled to be sure. An infection that caused brain swelling was blamed in Knut's death, but a zoo spokeswoman says the two are unrelated: "It's simply very, very sad." Click for more on plans to ... stuff Knut . More»

Final Verdict: Knut Drowned

Cause of the brain swelling not known, says pathologist

(NEWSER) - The sad final verdict is in: Celebrity polar bear Knut died from drowning. But the four-year-old's collapse into his enclosure's pool at the Berlin Zoo was caused by encephalitis, according to a necropsy performed on the bear. The AP reports that a zoo pathologist said she could not tell what caused the encephalitis—a swelling of the brain likely brought on by an infection—but ruled out rabies, botulism, and mad cow disease. Even if Knut had not drowned, the damage from the brain swelling would have killed him, reported the pathologist. More»

Knut to Be Stuffed, Displayed

Famous polar bear will go to Berlin museum

(NEWSER) - Knut spent his life on display in the Berlin Zoo, and in death he'll move to a museum. The famous bear will be stuffed and exhibited in Berlin's Natural History Museum, the New York Post reports, citing the Times of London. Even as veterinarians examined Knut to determine a cause of death, a taxidermist was there to make sure the bear's fur didn't get damaged. More»

Brain Problems Killed Knut

Berlin Zoo says he was otherwise fine

(NEWSER) - The mysterious and sudden death of polar bear sensation Knut is mysterious no longer. A necropsy performed yesterday discovered "significant changes to the brain, which can be viewed as a reason for the polar bear's sudden death," the Berlin Zoo announced today. The zoo wouldn't elaborate on what those changes were, but it did say that no changes were found in any other organ; further planned tests include bacteriological and tissue examinations. The AP notes that polar bears can live to as old as 20 in the wild, and even long in captivity; Knut turned four in December. (Click to read about the panic attacks Knut was having last year .) More»

Polar Bear Knut Is Dead

Beloved polar bear had been a world sensation

(NEWSER) - Sad news from Germany: Knut, the world's most famous polar bear, is dead. The 4-year-old bear was found in his enclosure this morning, though the cause of death isn't known. Knut became an international sensation after being abandoned by his mother at the Berlin Zoo, then raised by human keepers. He drew millions of visitors, notes Bloomberg . To catch up on all things Knut, click here . More»

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Knut Will Stay in Berlin

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Knut's Zoo Loses 2nd Animal

Six-year-old elephant Shaina Pali dies unexpectedly

Final Verdict: Knut Drowned

Cause of the brain swelling not known, says pathologist

Knut to Be Stuffed, Displayed

Famous polar bear will go to Berlin museum

Brain Problems Killed Knut

Berlin Zoo says he was otherwise fine

Polar Bear Knut Is Dead

Beloved polar bear had been a world sensation

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Germany • Knut • Berlin Zoo • celebrity • polar bear • animal • Neumünster

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Knut's Zoo Loses 2nd Animal

Six-year-old elephant Shaina Pali dies unexpectedly

Final Verdict: Knut Drowned

Cause of the brain swelling not known, says pathologist

Knut to Be Stuffed, Displayed

Famous polar bear will go to Berlin museum

Brain Problems Killed Knut

Berlin Zoo says he was otherwise fine

Polar Bear Knut Is Dead

Beloved polar bear had been a world sensation

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Community

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