Knut Death Video: Brain Disorder Likely Killed Polar Bear

by NowPublic Staff | March 23, 2011 at 10:32 am

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Knut: Star Polar Bear's Death Caught on Video

The death of Knut the polar bear saddened fans all over the world. There's an even sadder aspect to the story, though: Knut's death was actually caught on video by a tourist. The video shows Knut walking in circles for a few moments, clearly agitated. He then falls into his pool, dead. Warning: the Knut death video is as sad as we make it sound.

Knut: Polar Bear Dies in Enclosure

What Killed Knut?

The cause of Knut's death is still not known, but a brain disorder has been put forward as the most likely culprit. Knut died at age 4; polar bears tend to live to around 25 years, though the oldest captive polar bear, Debby, was 42 when she died.

Knut to Be Stuffed, Displayed

Knut will be stuffed and put on display at Berlin's Museum of Natural History.

Heiner Klös, Knut's keeper, defended the choice to display the polar bear,saying that it would be for educational purposes. Meanwhile, the necroscopy is not yet complete, though apparently Knut's internal organs were in good shape.

The bear’s health was not in question before the episode, and Klös himself had checked in on Knut just an hour before he died.

The problem was only “very suddenly apparent,” he said. “Then it was too late.”

Knut captured hearts all over the world, and was the only polar bear to be photographed by Annie Liebovitz.