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February 8, 2012
Castrate Knut, say animal rights activists
Published: 3 Mar 10 09:16 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100303-25621.html
An animal rights group called on Tuesday for Knut the polar bear, who shot to global stardom as a cub in 2007, to be castrated to avert incest with his cousin.
- Let’s keep our paws off Knut’s balls - Analysis & Opinion (3 Mar 10)
The group's zoo expert, Frank Albrecht, noted that Knut and Giovanna, known as Gianna for short, had the same grandfather.
Any offspring would threaten the genetic diversity of the polar bear population in Germany and risk susceptibility to a condition known as "incest depression", he said.
"Knut fans need to know that only Knut's castration would allow a long life together with Giovanna," Albrecht said in a statement.
Gianna had lived in Munich but was placed with the strapping Knut in Berlin due to construction work on her own den.
After chilly introductions, the two have gradually grown quite close. The housing arrangement, however, was initially intended to be temporary.
Knut drew an outpouring of sympathy around the globe after his mother cast him out as a cuddly cub.
The cult of Knut spread around the world and his first public appearance attracted some 500 reporters, including around 100 camera crews.
At the height of his fame, Knut featured on the front page of a host of glossy magazines, including Vanity Fair.
AFP (news@thelocal.de)
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Your comments about this article:
I'm sure if Knut understood what was going to happen he'd choose keeping his dangly bits over the broad.
PETA.......People Eating Taste Animals.
future environmental work will depend heavily on the children of today feeling an attachment to today's zoo's inhabitants. Video won't cut it. Tomorrow's activists are the kids walking around the zoos today, not those watching television
Why don't you stop calling him a Polar Bear and call him a toy that you want play with and alter to fit your pleasure.Then , maybe you can do what you obviously want to. Perhaps you should have shot him at birth; would have been less demeaning to all concerned.