Polar bear cub III emerges with mum at German zoo

Apr 16, 2008, 10:09 GMT

An undated handout released 28 February 2008 by Stuttgart zoo Wilhelma shows polar bear cub \'Wilbaer\' born in December 2007. EPA/WILHELMA ZOO/HO

Stuttgart - The third and last of Germany's trio of cute polar-bear cubs emerged for public view Wednesday, but a zoo official worried that little Wilbaer's upbringing was too happy to satisfy Germany's mania for poignant animal stories.

The hearts of Germans went out last year to Berlin Zoo cub Knut and this year to Nuremberg Zoo cub Flocke after they were rescued from their abusive polar-bear mothers and hand-raised by keepers.

Cub III by contrast has an affectionate relationship with his mother Corinna, padding along obediently at her heels. A live nationwide telecast showed the moment when she coaxed Wilbaer into their pond.

Dieter Zauch, the zoo chief, told a television interviewer, 'People are more attracted by disasters. I don't believe we're going to get thousands of people queuing up her to see this bear.'

Berlin Zoo had its best year ever last year as people thronged to see fluffy Knut frolicking with his foster parent, a zoo keeper.

Polar bear cubs are raised by their mothers only and must be protected from adult males including their fathers.

Wilbaer, 17 kilograms, was born in a zoo den in Stuttgart in December and keepers at the Wilhelma Zoo kept mother and infant strictly out of public view till Wednesday, though Wilbaer has taken some previous swims when zoo visitors were not looking.

The new cub's name combines the name of the zoo and the German word for 'bear.'