[Mrluvaluva]

An animal rights activist has been condemned for suggesting that an abandoned polar bear cub should be killed instead of being raised by humans.

Knut was born in Berlin Zoo last December but his mother ignored him and his brother, who later died.

Activist Frank Albrecht was quoted in the Bild newspaper, which has run photo spreads of the little bear, as saying: "Feeding by hand is not species-appropriate but a gross violation of animal protection laws.

"The zoo must kill the bear."

The comments were quickly condemned by the zoo, politicians and other animal rights groups.

"The killing of an animal has nothing to do with animal protection," said Wolfgang Apel, head of the German Federation for the Protection of Animals.

Mr Albrecht has claimed he was quoted out of context.

He explained that although he thought it was wrong of the zoo to have saved the cub's life, now that the bear can live on his own, it would be equally wrong to kill him.

"If a polar bear mother rejected the baby, then I believe the zoo must follow the instincts of nature," Mr Albrecht said.

"In the wild, it would have been left to die."

Other activists have claimed that current treatment of the cub is inhumane and could lead to future difficulties interacting with fellow polar bears.

But Berlin Zoo's vet, Andre Schuele, who is looking after Knut, disagrees.

He said: "These criticisms make me angry, but you can't take them so seriously. Polar bears live alone in the wild; I see no logical reason why this bear should be killed."

He also argued that given the increased rarity of polar bears in the wild, it makes sense to keep them alive in captivity so that they can be bred.

What do you think? Should the bear be killed?

[Ella]

NOOOOO! They can't kill it that's just evil!

[GiRTh]

Top it.

[Ella]

Originally posted by GiRTh
Top it.

[Sunny_01]

That would be just awful - how can they claim to be all for animal rights and then condem that poor animal to die. Rather it be raised in captivity and live than be sent to die

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Ella

What's wrong?

[Ella]

You want the bear to be killed!

Girth thats mean!

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Ella
You want the bear to be killed!

Girth thats mean!

Nature is mean Els. Who was it who made that quote about natures beauty and cruelty in the raw.

[Ella]

But the bear doesn't need to be killed.
Thats inhumane and just evil!

Thats like me having a baby and not wanting to keep it and saying 'ahhh just kill it!' Its wrong and evil evil evil!

[Ruth]

Personally I don't think the bear should be killed. But I wonder if people would care so much if it wasn't all cute and fluffy? What about if it was a really ugly looking creature?

[Bells]

Fair enough that in the wild it would've been left to be killed, but I reckon that now that we've been given the opportunity to not kill it and perhaps help, that definitely seems the better option!

And Ruth, even if it was an ugly-looking creature the same would apply although I understand what you mean about people being all 'aww' just because the bear is cute. I've never believed in giving my views on factors such as that however. On another note, if the animal was perhaps dangerous then the necessary precautions should be taken to make sure that it doesn't harm anyone yet it isn't harmed itself (depending on the animal and the level of danger). For this bear in question though, I don't think it should be killed.

[Ruth]

I should explain that I wasn't really referring to anyone on here btw in my last post!

[Bells]

^^^ That's fine Ruth lol. I personally did realise that and gave my views accordingly.

[Emilee]

Thats just inhumane!!!!!
Murders!

[GlitterEyes]

I think killing a perfectly healthy bear is wrong.

[Sunny_01]

I can not see any reasonable argument to kill this poor animal. I hear what you are saying Ruth and to be honest not sure how people would feel if it wasnt cute, but the fact is it is cute and we have gut reactions based on this particular animal. I think that killing an already endangered species would be ciminal.

[Ruth]

Yeah I know Sunny, and I certainly wasn't meaning anyone on this thread!

I agree - it is wrong to put down a perfectly healthy bear.

[Sunny_01]

I know you werent Ruth I kind of thought it was a general question rather than a direct one at the FM's

[GiRTh]

Ami the only one who voted to top it?

[Sunny_01]

Originally posted by GiRTh
Ami the only one who voted to top it?

Think so

[Lauren]

Noooo, it's perfectly healthy. It should be given a chance at life.

[Ruth*Star]

Killing a perfectly healthy animal sick, too evil. A animal rights acitivist, Rights, does'nt that mean the right to live.

[andybigbro]

NO!!! they shouldt Kill the bear

[Ruth]

It does worry me though, what kind of life will the bear have?

[Dr43%er]

It depends on how it is going to live the rest of it's life. Now I am no animal activist or rights person but if it is going to live its life like the polar bear I saw at Tallinn zoo in Estonia then pop a cap in it's furry white ass now. Genuinely, I have seen students with bigger digs than the bear had. It's cage was about 20 x 10 foot. that's about 6 x 3 meters for you metric lot. It did not have enough head room to stand up on it's rear legs fully. It was just walking round and round and round...... awful. It did upset me and I am not like that.