i can't believe what i am reading...this baby cub deserves to live a happy and healthy life...i am from canada and i feel the pain with Germany...leave the little guy alone and teach him to be a normal polar bear...i can't believe some people have no hearts...canada...

carrie, renfrew, canada

how can you kill a polar bear when you are to blame for feeding and raising him the way you did dont you have no heart tolds the little polar bear you should be ashamed to even think of doing something like that and the mother shouldnt havent work for the circus as long as she did thats what is wrong with humans we think we half to control everthing wild animals our not to be keeped by humans not in a circus or even in a zoo. please dont kill the baby polar bear it deserves life.

michael ankeney, montgomery Dayton, ohio

Tosca the Mother of this little orphan is described as being a Grumpy 20 year old ex circus bear who left her offspring ( both of them) to die on a ledge of her compund. Only Kanut survived. I hope that the human circus treats him better than we treated his Mother. Perhaps she thought it was a better thing to die.

It is little wonder that she was a grumpy bear if she endured twenty years in captivity as a circus bear. I think that we should all look out for Kanut and hope that he isnot exploited like his mother. We would all care more for Kanut if we knew what his Mother endured and why she saw no fit world to raise her cubs. I think she was despairing. This web site serves her ill and for that I am concerned.

If you can answer this then I may be convinced that this journey is not self seeking and is indeed aimed at the preservation of the Polar bear.

Thank you for reading my input.

Catherine, Oban, Scotland

We 'd never send Knut away from here! Today he was introduced to the public in the Berlin Zoo, and everybody loves him in Germany - I don't know how many times I will have to repeat it... Some people still believe that Knut is about to be killed which is absolutely wrong!

Ali, Ruhr region, Germany

There is no "right" reason for this polar bear cub to die just because some animal rights activists bring up the idea. Even though they bring up a valid point because in the wild, yes, Knut would have died BUT he was not born in the wild, he was born in the zoo! That is one of the main reasons we have zoos, to keep exotic animals in luxurious conditions with plenty of food and to keep them in a healthy fitness so that they can make lots of healthy babies. Now, if Knut was born in a zoo that released animals into the wild then this would be a well-said arguement made by the animal rights activists, but it is NOT! So I am happy to say that when the press release of Knut comes out, they better find a clever way to kill him if they still find it wise to kill the little mascot because everyone finds him to be cute, cuddly, and not deserving of death for being abandoned and for compassionate zoo keepers who saved him.

Ace, Huntsville, Alabama

Dear brits,

nobody thinks of killing Knut. It just isn't the case. He is so much loved by the people - you can' imagine that.

All this stuff of "killing Knut" is one of these media campaigns and propaganda stuff of british and us-american media. If you would read german newspapers an d watch german tv you would realize, that Knut is our king! Really everyone wants to caress him an give him a big hug.

If Lady Di wasn't dead (sorry for this), I would say: He's our Lady Di! Knut - the polar bear of our hearts ;-).

Anne, Berlin, Germany

i don't think that Knut should be killed because he did nothing wrong! also Knut should be humanized. he'll be in the zoo for the rest of his life and if he's humanized Knut will be less likely to attack anyone!

Anna, Cary, North Carolina, USA

What kind of evil people would advocate killing a bear just because they determine that he will have a bad life when it seems clear that the Berlin Zoo staff are dedicated to keeping him happy and comfortable? These fanatics would kill the bear and then turn their sights on "dysunctional" people as well.

Send the bear to the States if the Germans want to destroy him. Sea World or the San Diego Zoo won't kill the baby bear at least. What is wrong with these people!

jack, norcross, georgia

@Randie Siegel: The Berlin Zoo does not have any problems raising the little polar bear. They are doing a very good job there. It is not the zoo to be criticised but this bumptious "animal rights activist"!

Ali, Ruhr region, Germany

And again: "Knut" is NOT going to be killed! :-) It was just a misguided busybody to bring up the idea of killing the innocent little bear referring to the "argument" that the cub will not be brought up "appropriate to the species" . But fortunately his "idea" is not going to be realised, and "cute Knut" is going to keep alive. :-)

Ali, Ruhr region, Germany

In the US, two polar bear cubs, named Klondike and Snow were hand raised by humans. The bears were raised to adulthood, and they now reside at the Sea World in Florida. I believe that they were raised by animal behaviorists at the zoo, who incorporated mechanisms to help the animals to appropriately dentify with their species. They are currently living as perfectly fine animals. It is ridiculous to kill this cub because he has been hand raised. Why doesn't the Berlin Zoo get in touch with the people who raised Klondike and Snow.

Randie Siegel, Rockville, Maryland

I think that people that think they should kill the bear are crazy because that bear is innocent and hasent done anthing to be killed. Also they wont kill a mass murderer and yet they will kill a pempered bear that is only a baby...

The so called animal rights activest says they should kill the bear and yet he clls himself a animal right act activest.

Bryce, Apex North Carolina, USA

leave this baby alone........and let him live his life there.........at the zoo.............he will be fine .....zoos work with animals everyday and can provide care for him that is what they are trained to do!

Annie, Tyler, Tx/USA

@Sarah King: I think it is just the zookeeper in charge of the little polar bear who does everything he can do in order to prepare Knut to his future life among the other polar bears in the zoo. So please do not blame him. :-)

Ali, Ruhr region, Germany

I am glad to say and to repeat that "cute Knut" (that is the way the cuddly little polar bear is called here in Germany) definitely is not going to be killed. It was just a self-proclaimed animal welfare campaigner to bring up such an obnoxious idea. "Knut" is very popular here and is loved all over Germany. :-)

Ali, Ruhr region, Germany

I think Knut should not be killed because he did not do anything. If anyone should be blamed it should be the Zookeepers. They are the ones who made Knut become so depended on humans. Knut is just a little helpless bear that got rescued. The Zookeepers now should start treating Knut like a regular polar bear a little at a time that way there is no chance that his offspring will be so dependent on humans. Again, I feel that if anyone should be blamed it should be the Zookeepers for treating him in that mannor in the first place. This is not the bear's fault. He did nothing what so ever to hurt anything. All he really did was live. He is a cute little bear and should definatly not be killed.

Sarah King, Cary, North Carolina, USA

When a horrible or useless human mother (depending on your point of view) decides to abandon a small new born baby, what is normally done? Are these people saying that it is OK to let nature decide if that small child is allowed to live? Thats not right... we do what we can to save that helpless childs life. We don't make the child suffer for the faults of its useless mother! I am by no means an animal rights activist or green peace type person... as a matter of fact I am an avid hunter. But to me this point of view is us (Humans) who are no more than a big dumb animal ourselves trying to say what is right and wrong in every aspect of the world! We are not the only species on the planet that matters, we should be doing the same thing for this little guy as we would for a small child abandoned by its mother. Find it a new home and a good caring family...its called adoption!

Louie, Syracuse,

The little cub will never be put into the wild, so why kill him? Also, people are trying to save polar bears and killing a perfectly healthy one is no good. Isnt it illigal to kill polar bears?

Sarah King, Cary, North Carolina, USA

Why is it that this story seems to be a welcome excuse for some people to deliver anti-German comments based on the Nazis and World War II? If the bear was in a different country no one would think of likening the suggestions of isolated 'animal rights activists' to kill the cub to concentration camps. That in itself is an insult to anyone who had to suffer under the Nazi regime. This is an animal issue, not a political one! The German government also has absolutely nothing to do with this.

Oh and the Berlin Zoo has issued a statement today - of course Knut will not be killed. That was never even remotely considered.

Marie, London,

"Fed with human milk"

Can women lactate whenever they want? Or is it facilitated by the birth of a baby?

Pete, Cov,

"Adolf" Albrect, the so called animal rights activist, seems to have adopted the tactics of the former leader of his nation. "Kill all inappropriate" living beings is his message. Well, he needs to get out of the animal rights busines and into the preservatuion business the way this world is going. Excess Human population is the problem here, not defenseless Baby bears.

Ian Beaumont, Fort Myers, Florida, USA

I am going to visit Berlin to see this little bear when he can be seen by the general public at Tiergarten zoo.

Tourist Board Berlin - take note and support Herr Andre Schuele for preserving the little creature and Herr Doerflein for looking after him so well.

Peter, London,

Knut does NOT face a death sentence.

The real story is like this: the self-same animal rights campaigner campaigned AGAINST the death of the sloth. He was told why the sloth was killed. When he heard about Knut, he decided to be obnoxious and said that the bear should receive the same treatment as the sloth. Ali is right about him just wanting to become prominent.

The director of Aachen Zoo thinks the bear should have been killed when he was born, but does not think he should be killed now.

In brief: Knut isn't going to die.

Starling, Lancaster,

I'm baffled by this, and I was raised by an animal rights zealot! The only reason for killing this bear would be if he was fatally sick anyway, or posed an unmitigable threat to the zookeepers.

"Not a proper polar bear" Like bears evolved in zoo cages. . .blech!

Michael, Pueblo, CO. USA

Were they fed with 'human milk' or cow's milk?

GL, London,

To my mind this so-called animal rights campaigner just desired to become prominent. What a shame! "Knut" is not only loved in Berlin but all over Germany.

Ali, Ruhr region, Germany

I think that you shouldn't kil Knut because everybody knows about him and if you put it to sleep, people around the area would be angrey at the local zoo. He doesn't deserve to die because you can still train him to be a lot less dependant on people and some day be released in the wild to survive by himself.

Karen King, Raleigh, USA

Why am I not suprised the Germans would figure out extermination is the best result?

Been there done that....don't ya think? After all, little Knut can't grow up to be a "proper Polar bear..." kind of along the lines of some people can't grow up to be proper humans beings. Germans have a short memory.

Jeff, Anaheim, USA

I don't think Knut should be killed, because he is obviously not going to be sent out into the wild, and because what has he done wrong to be killed, and besides I thought all of the EU was anti-death penalty and that includes Germany so how does that make a difference for animals. Also another reason why not to put him down is because he could make Germany money, and the government is always looking for money. But he could still learn some normal polar bear traits.

Melissa Pittelli, Apex, USA

"Fed with human milk"? I would think milk from a quadraped like a bovine female would be more plentiful and just as likely to meet Knut's needs as milk from a human female.

Mark Bateman, Clinton Township, Michigan USA

Germany is becoming more and more the venue for the "Mad Hatters Tea Party".

Linda , Atlanta, USA , Georgia

Has no one seen the doco about the two polar bears they raised in the US? They were fine and now live in Florida. People need to remember that they are endangered animals and on some occasions need intervention - such as this.

Penguinchick, Aberystwyth, Wales

I can plainly see that the only resolution to the extermination idea of this little white fluff ball, is an educated exchange....certainly it is perfect German Zoo logic to place Leipzig in the middle of the Arctic and let him fend for food, while the young polar cub can enjoy whatever remodel suits his fancy for Leipzig's old lair! Now isn't that the only resolution?

Beau Chaine', Salt Lake City, Utah

So because human intervention saved the cub, it is the fault of human intervention that the cub survived? What sort of a world do we live in?

Do we destroy healthy children who are born into appalling conditions put up for adoption and then 'spoilt' by their new life so they could never go back to their old one? No, so why destroy the bear?

The activists sound like animal-haters.

Sarah Hague, Montpellier, France

Have mercy on the poor living soul, who are they to judge who is to live or die, that is merely the duty of God. The polar bear has done nothing to deserve such punishment. Who can differentiate between what is wrong or right, just because the polar bear has adapted to the human way of living does not mean it is a dysfunctional life style on behalf of the bear cub.

A.M, London,

jes don't come cryin when the bear wipes the grins off the faces of the zoo keepers, when they all chant "you're the devil in disguise" elvis songs...lol, he's cute now, but he's capable of bring a bloody terror...

joanna, hou, tx, usa

how sad to read a story of killing life instead of helping out a creature that will be of no more soon, the cub looks healthy,happy and who are these so called animal rights poeple to say that this bear is suffering,i would think im more animal rights then you lot,leave knut alone to live a happy life

sharon baker, essex, uk

It breaks our hearts to read Knut's story. He is a beautiful little bear who deserves to live after all he's been through. He lives in a Zoo already so it's not like he's from the wild so handfeeding him is quite normal given his circumstances. After a while of living in the zoo, if he must go into the wild, his natural hunting instincts will kick in.

How can the animal protection agencies allow this euthanesia to go through...it's awful! This animal is not a danger to society and doesn't have any contagious diseases, he's just a cuddly little cub!

We believe that they were simply using Knut for their own marketing and advertising purposes and nothing else, with no regard for the feelings and life of Knut. He deserves to live his full life especially given that his specie is on the list of animals who face extinction.

We find this story with Knut very dehumanising and cruel.

Linda & Carol Paquette-Timbers, Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada

He is in the Zoo, not the wild! He will be in the Zoo for the rest of his life! He would have been dependent on humans anyway. His Mom is dependent and so is every other animal in the Zoo. Let the litte guy live!

Katherine Garrity, Arcadia, USA, IN

Everything is okay. The bear will be alright, he doesn't need killing to save the world. Polar bears will not be extinct by 2070, there is no global warming to be concerned about. The only dysfunction in the story is the animal rights activists and disturbed scientists who deny human compassion and empathy, while promulgating their vitriolic environmentalism as the new world religion. Live long Knut.

John, Redwood City, USA California

I think that Knut deserves to live because he did absolutely nothing to deserve to be killed. Knut is happy in the zoo, so if he is never going to leave, I don't think that he should not depend at all on humans. He should learn a few traits of a normal polar bears though.

Mr. Hutchinson, Apex, North Carolina, USA

My God, I cannot belive how many 'animal rights activists' have taken against this poor bear. Many other animals have been hand reared and eventually returned to the wild, or in this case a zoo. It's not as if this bear will be returned to the wild, he'll spend the rest of his life surrounded by both bears and humans in whatever zoo he ends up living in. If an animal is healthy with a good chacnce of survival, no one has the right to decide it must die.

Sarah Howson, Chester,

We have to kill this bear to save it? Stupidity knows no bounds.

Jim Guastavino, Massapequa, NY

Another example of the mental disorder, "Liberalism"! Heaven forbid an animal be brought up by those inferior humans!

joe, henderson, Nevada

The German govt tries to regulate every aspect of life. Any animal born in a controlled environment will not be the same as born in the wild. That does not give the govt or anyone else the right to mandate death. Animal protection laws as stated in the article, I cannot see how killing this cub is "protection".

Elizabeth Button, Atlanta, GA

Whats to lose by keeping the cub alive? If the Berlin Zoo, choses death, all posibility is lost. If they choose life, all possibility exists! That bear will have a comfy home for the rest of it's life and bring joy to all who see it! I should be so well taken care of.

Diane, Brooklyn, NY

After all the lamenting of how polar bars are losing their habitat and liable to become extinct, we are now in a position to start helping them, by saving Knut. Long may he live!

Stavroulla, London, UK

Excuse me . . the bear is in a ZOO. It is never going to be released into the wild where it would have to survive on it's own. What is the problem here? This is not an animal rehabitation program. Just seems silly to even use the argument that it (the bear) is becoming too reliant on humans.

Rita, Milwaukee, WI/USA

Sorry but this is based on a mistranslation of the original German. No one has ever suggested that this bear should be killed, but simply pointed out the mixed policy of German zoos, where one zoo (Leipzig?) did put down a cub in exactly similar circumstances because it could not be reared in a natural way, and then later Berlin zoo hand rears this one.

Alexandria, Sheffield, UK

This little one will never be able to lead the life of wild polar bear. But killing it, because it will never know the joys of something it knows nothing about and will never miss, is an exercise in twisted logic. It can have a happy existence, if it is given the chance.

Chris Anderson, Everett, Washington

Those who advocate killing the little bear cub may be jealous of the success of the Berlin Zoo and Herr Thomas Doerflein since only 34 have survived in 50 years.
Berlin hei jo !

Doe, London,

It's the zoo keepers fault that he is so spoiled. They should give him less every day and spend less time with him. You should not kill the bear. He's not hurting anyone so why kill him? The keepers are the one' s that started spoiling him in the first place.

Mr. Hutchinson, Apex, North Carolina, USA

What sort of Zoo rears a cub in this way in the first place. As an endangers species the cub should be allowed to live and grow to maturity however in a different zoo where a more natural enviroment is available.

Claire, London,

I'm truly appalled by the attitude of the wildlife experts as illustrated in your article. Given man-kind's general disregard for the health of the planet and its inhabitants, you would expect these people to be at the forefront of changing people's attitiudes towards conserving the life of all animals.

John Durham, Cambridge, UK

Do we put human " cubs " down when we find them abandoned by their mothers?...or when they are born in such way that they will never be able to look after themselves?...

Porfirio Pires, Swindon, UK

The bear is alive and is healthy , why take its life?

Dennis Goodwin, Cincinnati,

While I understand the argument, and possibly agree with it, IMHO - the bear cub should be allowed to grow and put with another young adult bear when older. If, as will likely happen, he is killed by the other bear - we can say we tried. If we do not try - we are just killers.
The human heart is an old softie and we like to try - against all knowledge and protocol. In the end, nature will have her way.

Justa, Evansville, USA

Aren't the parents Tosca and Lars now dependent on human support too?
When Knut grows up , he will become independent from his fosterparent keeper. How many teenagers or adults require food, lullabies and cuddles etc from their nannies?

I am horrified by the attitude of the so called animal rights campaigners and Leipzig and Aachen zoos : kill the animals born in captivity , then capture some more from the wild who are not dependent on humans and condemn them to a life behind bars for the rest of thier lives?

Bravo for the Berlin Zoo!

Doe, London,

We had to destroy the bear to save the bear.

Pete Jones, Keswick, Cumbria

This baby bear will thrive in captivity, and since scientists are saying that polar bears will be extinct in the wild by 2070, it seems like a good idea to let this little gipper live. STOP DEPENDANCY ON OIL!

John Paul Bordeaux, Denver, CO

Shouldn't Germany, of all countries, be a little more sensitive about destroying an individual by euthanasia for not being a 'proper' member of the species?

Tom, Crawley, W. Sussex

Maybe Knut won;t grow into a "proper" polar bear, but how many animals kept in a zoo are living as they would in the wild? Of course no one wants to see a fluffy little bear killed and although his upbringing won't be natural, at least he can have a life and perhaps can be used for breeding programmes later, especially when polar bears are becoming an endangered species. Let the poor little thing have a life and some fun.

Stuart Murray, Amsterdam, Netherlands