This is baby Knut, the polar bear that was rejected by its mother Tosca after Knut was born on December 5, 2006. He weighed only 19 pounds (9 kilograms). Berlin zoo employee Thomas Doerflein plays with polar bear cub Knut in this picture. Knut had to be reared by hand and bottle-fed by Doerflein at the Berlin Zoo in Germany. They had a very special bond that is almost never seen between human and polar bear. Photo #1 by Jeremy C. Munns
This is Knut during his debut at the Berlin Zoo on 23 March 2007. He became a superstar overnight, capturing hearts worldwide. Photo #2 by Jens Koßmagk
Wet, wee Knut. Photo #3 by Andrea & Stephan
Knut & Thomas Dörflein at Berlin Zoo. His keeper Thomas Dörflein would bottle-feed Knut and strum Elvis Presley songs for him on a guitar. Photo #4 by Andrea & Stephan
Wanna Play, Daddy? Knut seems to be asking at the Berlin Zoo in 2007. Photo #5 by everyone’s idle (“mgdtgd”) Berlin
Knut – a superstar at Berlin Zoo with Doerflein on 03/31/07. Photo #6 by nayrb7
Knut standing up with Doerflein. Photo #7 by Kai Schreiber
Thomas Dörflein playing with baby Knut in 2007. Photo #8 by Jean-Luc 2005
Although some activists say that Knut did not belong in a zoo, it is hard to see these pictures and still not see the special bond and love between Thomas Dörflein and the polar bear Knut in May 2007. Photo #9 by Jean-Luc 2005
Knut as if saying, “I love you, too.” Photo #10 by Kim S dearbarbie
Knut being nutty in 2007. Photo #11 by Herbert Orth
2007 Knut at Berlin Zoo. Photo #12 by jtriefen
August 2007 – Knut looks huge but he’s actually still a baby, not even a year old. Photo #13 by Matthias Zirngibl (“tscherno”), Germany
Knut at Berlin Zoo – 2007. Knut is only 10 months old and still growing. Photo #14 by Aconcagua
Knut looking scruffy and dirty in 2007 at Berlin Zoo. Photo #15 by L_K_M / Lucas Mathis, Zürich, Switzerland
Berlin Zoo – Polar bear Knut at the age of 10 months. Photo #16 by Aconcagua
Polar bear Knut, still a cub, at the age of 10 months Berlin Zoo. Photo #17 by Aconcagua
Knut at Berlin Zoo in 2008. Photo #18 by Jeses
In 2008, this photo is of Polar Bear Knut at the Berlin Zoo when he was the age of nearly 1 1/4 years. Photo #19 by Gabriele Delhey
Muddy Knut. He was a polar bear who liked to play with mud. Photo #20 by pelican
Polar Bear Knut at age 2. I wonder if Knut had grown lonely? His friend and keeper and perhaps even what he considered a dad, Doerflein, had died at 44 of a heart attack in 2008. Photo #21 by Aconcagua
Polar Bear Knut at age 2. Photo #22 by Aconcagua
Knut is 2 years old here. Experts expressed concern over Knut’s behavior which was considered abnormal due to all the human attention. He would mimic humans sometimes by lifting a hand to his face as if he too was taking a photo. Photo #23 by Aconcagua
Knut at Berlin Zoo in 2009. Photo #24 by Flavio Ensiki
Knut seems to be saying, “Hey you!” Photo #25 by Aconcagua
This is Knut sticking out his tongue in 2010. Photo #26 by Matt Biddulph
Berlin Zoo, Germany, Polar Bear Knut. Photo #27 by Nigel Swalesh
Polar Bear Knut shaking the water off in 2010. Photo #28 by Benjamin Janecke
This was Knut in February 2011. Photo #29 by Benjamin Janecke
Knut at the Berlin Zoo in February 2011. In March, Knut was found dead in the water by zoo officials. He was only 4 years and three months old, which was well below the average life expectancy for polar bears of around age 35. It raised the question all over again of whether or not polar bears belong in zoos. Rest in peace, Knut, you were a superstar with millions of fans worldwide. Photo #30 by Marmontel