tailchaser00 | Mar. 23rd, 2007

German Baby Polar Bear Escapes Death

(CBS) BERLIN, Germany A polar bear cub currently living in a zoo in Germany has escaped death by lethal injection after animal rights activists said he would be better off dead.

The bear, named Knut, is being raised by a zookeeper in Berlin after being rejected by his mother. The animal rights activists insisted that hand-raising this animal is a gross violation of animal protection laws.

The activists claim that the zoo is condemning the bear to a dysfunctional life and should therefore put him to death.

The controversy has made Knut a celebrity in Germany. School children rushed to his defense and local television stations were delivering daily reports on how Knut was getting along.

Knut and his twin brother were born last December to a former circus performing bear named Tosca.

When she showed no interest in her babies, the zookeepers stepped in to raise them by hand - feeding them milk from a bottle. While Knut continues to thrive and grow to a healthy weight, Knut's brother did not survive.

this is knut......