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Berlin's star polar bear Knut died of brain disease
Mar 22, 2011, 13:11 GMT
(FILE) A file picture dated 15 May 2007 shows polar bear Knut playing with his warden Thomas Doerflein at the zoo in Berlin, Germany. The zoo\'s bear expert Heiner Kloes reported that the four-year-old polar bear collapsed and died of unknown causes in his compound on 19 March 2011. EPA/STEFFEN KUGLER
Berlin - Germany's best-loved animal star, the polar bear Knut, died of brain disease, the Berlin zoo where he was born and raised announced Tuesday.
Knut, who became a global media sensation, died unexpectedly on Saturday, aged four. He keeled over and fell into the water in his enclosure in front of horrified zoo visitors.
The zoo identified the cause of death after carrying out an autopsy on Monday.
Knut had been a constant attraction, after he was rejected by his mother at birth and hand-raised by zoo keepers.
Environmental campaigners had blamed his death on the conditions of captivity at the zoo.
Read more about Germany Nature
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