Activists - polar cub should be PTS, not "humanized"

[columbine]

(article with photos)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Berlin Zoo rallied to the defense of Knut, a three-month-old polar bear cub, Tuesday, rejecting demands that the animal be allowed to die after being abandoned by its mother.

The fate of "cuddly Knut" has gripped the German capital since his birth in December. Rejected by his mother Tosca, the cub was adopted by a zookeeper who moved into the animal's enclosure to care for him round the clock.

Some animal rights campaigners think this will humanize the bear too much and want the zoo to stop saving young animals.

"Hand-rearing a polar bear is not appropriate and is a serious violation of animal rights," Bild newspaper quoted animal rights campaigner Frank Albrecht as saying.

"In fact, the cub should have been killed," he added.

Berlin Zoo said the animal would not be put down or left to fend for itself: "That's complete nonsense," a spokesman said.

Knut has become an unofficial Berlin city mascot and has even had his picture taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz as part of a new climate change campaign.

Knut's mother Tosca -- formerly a performing animal in an East German zoo -- rejected Knut and his twin brother shortly after their birth. The twin died but Knut was "adopted" by zookeeper Thomas Doerflein.

The polar bear is bottle-fed, washed and cuddled by his adoptive father, who moved in to the zoo to sleep in a bed by the bears crate. Newspapers report that Doerflein also plays him Elvis songs on the guitar and gave him Christmas presents.

[lvpets2002]

The just flew all over me too.. Now I know they can raise this baby if they wanted too.. I am hoping another zoo will take the baby in.. Does anybody Remember Klondike & Snow polar cubs.. They were abandoned by their mother too & the Colorada Zoo Raised them & now they are in Fl Zoo.. They are adults & doing just great..

[Daisy and Delilah]

I was fortunate enough to see Klondike and Snow in person. They are adorable!

[lvpets2002]

So did I.. I saw them at the Florida Zoo after they were adults.. I still have a shirt & mug with their baby pics on them..

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Excuse me for being dumb but the line of thinking that a wonderful animal should be killed instead of raised in a zoo, just zooms right over my head!!!!

So should everyone who has a pet cat or dog let them go in the wild because they all used to be wild animals before their breeds were tamed?
Now, I know no one is going to keep a polar bear in their home but still that baby sure doesn't seem to be suffering to me. Ending a life (even an animal one) is not something to be done lightly.

What next? Killing human orphans?

[sparks19]

Excuse me for being dumb but the line of thinking that a wonderful animal should be killed instead of raised in a zoo, just zooms right over my head!!!!

So should everyone who has a pet cat or dog let them go in the wild because they all used to be wild animals before their breeds were tamed?
Now, I know no one is going to keep a polar bear in their home but still that baby sure doesn't seem to be suffering to me. Ending a life (even an animal one) is not something to be done lightly.

What next? Killing human orphans?

NO.... apparently we should NOT release them... we should just kill them.

Sickening isn't it?

[cyber-sibes]

I couldn't believe this when I saw it on the news. Hrumph, "activists!" What a bunch of BS. What was the term they used ? Something like "inappropriate inter species bonding" or some such made up "scientific" reasoning. Thank God there are compassionate humans around who are willing to put the extra time & care into raising this little guy. The little bear cub is absolutely adorable, and I hope he lives a long and wonderful life.

[moosmom]

This poor little guy needs to live at a sanctuary or something, NOT you-know-what. What are these people thinking anyways???