German zoo goes on the defensive after death of polar bear cubs

Jan 8, 2008, 14:00 GMT

Nuremberg, Germany - A German zoo defended itself from criticism Tuesday over its decision to allow two polar bear cubs to die instead of trying to raise them by hand.

The two cubs, born about three weeks ago, vanished Monday and were probably gobbled up by their mother, officials at the Nuremberg zoo in southern Germany said.

The zoo had warned in advance that it would not 'rescue' the cubs after their mother Vilma began behaving 'strangely' amid indications the cubs were sick.

A spokesman Tuesday defended the zoo's action to let nature take its course, saying it had 'acted absolutely correctly' under guidelines laid down by the European Animal Conservation and Breeding Programme.

The deaths came a year after Berlin Zoo scored a publicity coup by saving the life of Knut, a polar bear cub that was raised by bottle after being abandoned by its mother at birth.

Knut generated huge international interest and massive revenues for the zoo, which saw attendances soar as visitors sought a glimpse of the cuddly cub playing with its keeper.

Nuremberg Deputy Mayor Horst Foerther said he would be discussing with zoo director Dag Encke the fate of a cub born to another polar bear.

Vera, who gave birth to one or two cubs around the same time as Vilma, was seen Tuesday strolling across her enclosure, carrying a cubs in her mouth.

'I don't know if we can bear to allow the little polar bear to starve to death if his mother Vera abandons him,' Foerther said.

The Bavarian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Monday attacked the zoo, saying it had breached its duty of care to the cubs.

'You can't move polar bears into artificial surroundings and then act as if they are still living wild,' said the society president, Berthold Merkel.

The 'rescue' of Knut in December 2006 triggered fierce debate among animal experts, some of whom said he should have been allowed to die rather than be raised by humans.

Nuremberg Zoo says it lets the animals alone in their den and believes that sending in keepers to check on them is likely to disturb their natural behaviour.