Kill baby polar bear, animal activists say

[janbo1960]

Animal rights campaigners in Germany have called on Berlin's Zoo to kill a baby polar bear that has been rejected by its mother rather than have it raised by humans.

The three-month-old polar bear cub has captured the hearts of many Germans, baby Knut and his twin brother were born in December.

They were rejected by their mother and were left exposed to freezing temperatures.

After Knut's brother died, the zoo intervened to save the surviving cub.

Knut has been nurtured by a keeper who has slept by his side and bottle-fed him.

Now animal rights campaigners argue Knut should be put down to stop him becoming emotionally and physically reliant on humans.

That has sparked outrage in Germany and Berlin Zoo has vowed to continue hand-rearing the cub.

[girldorksrule]

Isn't the baby at the zoo anyway? Won't it be dependant on humans anyway since his home is a ZOO???

[Skylace]

Isn't the baby at the zoo anyway? Won't it be dependant on humans anyway since his home is a ZOO???

His brother died before they stepped into save him. They let the mother's take care of the young at the zoo.

[eefanincan]

If this is true, then I think we should let the polar bears care for the animal rights activists. Ideally the bears would take care of their own cubs, but if they won't do that then the staff step in to do that ---- and by doing so the cubs will lead a good, safe life.