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Knut died of brain disease
South Africa News 24 ^ | 3-22-11

Posted on 03/22/2011 12:25:46 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

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 on 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.


TOPICS: Germany; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: polarbears
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To: Navy Patriot; afraidfortherepublic

“Knut died of brain disease.”

***Shame, I didn’t know he was a liberal.***

Yep. Another victim of glo-bull warming heat stroke!


21 posted on 03/22/2011 1:02:30 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Visit the TOMMY FRANKS MILITARY MUSEUM in HOBART, OK. I did, well worth it!)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Years ago I read about a parasite that infected Wilda beast populations. It lived in the brain of the animal and eventually created so much brain damage that the animal could not keep its balance or function in a normal way. The animal would turn all around just like that video and then collapse. Predators knew too, the least behavior which is unusual signals that the animal is weak or ailing. The predators target THAT one out of the entire herd.

The natives there were used to seeing it and called it the ‘turning sickness’.

22 posted on 03/22/2011 1:02:51 PM PDT by SMARTY (Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Some sort of...wait for it...Bi-POLAR disorder? *rimshot*


23 posted on 03/22/2011 1:03:29 PM PDT by Andonius_99 (There are two sides to every issue. One is right, the other is wrong; but the middle is always evil.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Germany's best-loved animal star, the polar bear Knut, died of brain disease

Mad Cow disease?

24 posted on 03/22/2011 1:05:06 PM PDT by mlocher (Is it time to cash in before I am taxed out?)
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To: thefactor

Durn your hide, you beat me to it!


25 posted on 03/22/2011 1:05:16 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Visit the TOMMY FRANKS MILITARY MUSEUM in HOBART, OK. I did, well worth it!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
His mother knew.

There's no evidence to support that. An interesting theory nonetheless.

Wild animals kept in captivity can be good educators for children and society. The problem starts when people start to speak with authority on the reasons for population changes of certain species - much like some have done regarding polar bears.

26 posted on 03/22/2011 1:06:09 PM PDT by Fury
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast
One sniff told her

Or some other mechanism we don't understand. If we could figure it out it might lead to tech that would allow for non-invasive diagnosis. Kinda like Doc McCoy's ...uhhh...tricorder?

27 posted on 03/22/2011 1:06:59 PM PDT by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt The Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: SMARTY

I read about that too — in a Wilbur Smith novel.


28 posted on 03/22/2011 1:07:37 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Knut died of brain disease

He was a liberal?

29 posted on 03/22/2011 1:09:15 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Retired Greyhound

How sad!


30 posted on 03/22/2011 1:09:59 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Moose4
Ugh, that’s not pleasant to watch

Yes, viewed and was very sad. I hope that parents would take the opportunity to educate their children that all animals are subject to disease and some may die suddenly. It's nature.

Checked nestboxes this weekend and found the same female Eastern Screech Owl that's been in the box the last two years. Also found feathers of Eastern Bluebirds, Slate Colored Juncos, etc in the next box. Nature is beautiful - but stark in terms of survival.

31 posted on 03/22/2011 1:10:39 PM PDT by Fury
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Watched the video... sad seeing him go down like that.


32 posted on 03/22/2011 1:10:56 PM PDT by ScottinVA (Imagine.... a world without islam.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Without a doubt his mom knew. I’ve witness his several times with cats. If there’s something wrong with the baby, they abandon it. The abandoned kittens are a good example- one was deaf and another one died kidney failure at age 2. Both were moved several times by mama kitty. She knew.


33 posted on 03/22/2011 1:14:57 PM PDT by rintense (The GOP elite & friends can pound sand.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

It makes sense actually. You wonder if it is something that simple, how the zoo vets could miss the diagnosis.

I don’t think it would take the parasite 4 years to destroy the brain.


34 posted on 03/22/2011 1:15:55 PM PDT by SMARTY (Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same.)
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To: SMARTY

I wonder if that’s why a couple years ago they said he had some kind of psychological or adjustment disorder at the time?


35 posted on 03/22/2011 1:22:49 PM PDT by GnuHere
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To: afraidfortherepublic

One of my dogs (Aladdin) has Canine Epilepsy. He has had attacks since he was about 2 yrs old he is eight now. He has been on meds all this time. If you have not been around a big dog (125 lbs) having an seizure it can be very frightening. They can come at any time day or night and he is completely helpless during the attack and very disoriented for an hour or so after wards.


36 posted on 03/22/2011 1:23:55 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: GnuHere

Dunno! Maybe that is why the other bears chased him away.


37 posted on 03/22/2011 1:24:40 PM PDT by SMARTY (Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same.)
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To: Navy Patriot

He wasn’t. He had a brain.


38 posted on 03/22/2011 1:26:35 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

This is why you keep Charlie Sheen away from the zoo.


39 posted on 03/22/2011 1:27:11 PM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
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To: Retired Greyhound

showing all the signs of a stroke...


40 posted on 03/22/2011 1:31:44 PM PDT by tcrlaf (2012 Slogan: "You'd Have To Be Insane, To Vote For Hussein!")
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