Post date: Feb 15, 2013 3:6:36 PM
Two years after his death, Knut the polar bear which shot to world fame when he was hand-reared at Berlin zoo returns into the limelight, this time stuffed to the city's natural history museum.
BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 15, 2013) (REUTERS) - Some two years after Knut, the celebrity polar bear died of an epileptic fit aged four, his remains went on display at Berlin's natural history museum on Friday (February 15).
The life size stuffed Knut has all the typical characteristics which made him world famous, according to the museum's director general."I believe that Knut will be accepted by the public because the sculpture is incredibly dignified," said Johannes Vogel.
"We already spoke to people who knew Knut very well when he was still alive and they recognise their Knut," Vogel added.
A CAT scan had revealed abnormalities in the brain of the bear, who may have inherited epilepsy from his father Lars, also a sufferer.
Four year-old Knut, who won global fame as he grew from a cute cub but grew into a 200 kg predator, died in front of horrified visitors at the zoo in March 2011.
Neurologists said the fit was triggered by a brain disorder.
Knut shot to fame when he was rejected by his mother and was hand-reared instead by his keeper Thomas Doerflein.
Visitors came to watch keeper and cub playing together.
The German post office produced a stamp in Knut's honour and the bear appeared on the cover of numerous publications, including the German edition of Vanity Fair.