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Move over Knut: Meet Snowflake, the new polar bear cub superstar
Last updated at 23:52pm on 08.04.08Her name is Snowflake, and she clearly has what it takes to melt the public's hearts.
Germany's latest superstar polar bear cub made a winning debut yesterday.
Five hundred journalists and battalions of cameraman were there to record the occasion as the four-month-old bundle of fur emerged gingerly into her enclosure at Nuremberg Zoo.
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Snowflake takes a dip and has a playful paddle
The little bear is the second cub to capture the imagination of the adoring public after Knut the polar bear put a tentative paw outside his enclosure several years ago.
She had to be coaxed out into the open then slowly nosed around the rocks and grass with the curiosity of a toddler - keeping close to her keeper, Horst Maussner.
But she quickly gained confidence, eventually bounding through the grass and plunging into the water.
Before long she was splashing and diving happily before climbing out to nibble on the zookeeper's shoe. There was a collective sigh of aaaahhh as Herr Maussner gave her a cuddle with simultaneous tummy-rub.
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In she goes: Snowflake takes the plunge and her first dive turns out to be a bellyflop
Snowflake, or Flocke as she is known in German, had to be taken from her mother soon after her birth in December because of fears for her safety.
Nuremberg is hoping that she will prove as big a draw as Knut, her older counterpart at Berlin Zoo.
He has generated £5million in takings and souvenir sales since he was abandoned by his own mother in 2006 and raised by zookeepers.
Detlef Untermann, spokesman for Berlin Zoo, said there is room for both bears in the commercial market.
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Drying off after a dip in the pool, Snowflake struts around
The polar bear cub plays with a melon
"It's clear that people like it cute, small, cuddly and white; button eyes, button nose," he said.
"It's OK that way and Nuremberg can enjoy the attention of the public now.
"Berlin Zoo is not envious in any way, and Knut doesn't begrudge them either; he's been brought up quite well."
That, however, is a matter of debate. Animal rights campaigners who campaigned for Knut to be put down rather than raised by humans say he is now showing signs of mental problems.
He beckons photographers forward to take pictures of him, wails when no tourists stand before his enclosure, hugs trees for comfort and shows more and more aggression.
Recently he killed ten live carp which had been put into his moat to eat algae, biting their heads off and smothering himself in their blood.
Juergen Ortmueller, of the Whale, Bear and Dolphin Protection Forum, said: "Knut is a psychopath and there is every danger that Flocke will be one too."
The polar bear cub plays with a blanket
Reader views (14)
A psychopath? Really? I thought killing fish was natural behaviour for a bear. I guess cats that kill mice and birds are also psychopaths. How about those humans that put animals in cages for the amusement of other humans? That sounds psychopathic to me.
While some of his other behaviour may be unusual it is understandable. If my sole purpose in life was to entertain crowds of humans I'd start acting a little odd too. It doesn't mean he should be put down though.
- Billy, Ireland
how dare such remarks be made about Knut.....of course he's wild, naturally and in my opinion it's time he was found a mate...aren't you male human much worse.......?
- Valerie Brockwell, belluno italy
Animal rights campaigners want it put down? I understand it not growing up to be a releasable Polar Bear, however, is euthanasia really the answer? I don't think destroying it is the answer at all. I do, however, agree with Lauren when she says "Crowds of curious watchers does not make up for play and interaction no matter how much they coo and think how cute Snowflake is." There must be a more humane answer!
- Loren, Slave Lake, Canada
I work at a zoo, and I tell you it's perfectly natural for bears to kill fish. Not only that, all carnivorous mammals (except most humans) kill more prey than they consume. And they all play with their food, don't say you haven't. I can't believe the reporter used the word psychopath to describe the natural behavior of a bear cub. Is this site legit or some kind of joke? Anyway, the pics are cute.
- Polarized Bear, Birmingham, USA
very, very cute; very, very sad.
- Jean M., NS, Canada
Does Snowflake have any company at all of the polar bear persuasion? No living thing should be alone all the time. Crowds of curious watchers does not make up for play and interaction no matter how much they coo and think how cute Snowflake is.
- Lauren, Edmonton, Canada
One is forced to assume that the carp were killed and then eaten, the article does not specify. If the fish were killed and ignored... that's unnatural (that's more like human behaviour which is a sad descent for a wild animal)
But the rest of it, increasing aggression (towards even the trainers who raised him?) an apparent need for attention/company... this 'predator' was raised in a thoroughly unnatural environment (don't imagine that simply having rocks and water and shrubbery equates with the unfettered freedom of being in the wild). His very nature, his instincts are left undeveloped. He is not a pet. Raising creatures for the entertainment value to gawking humans is obscene. The same people who happily pay to ogle the animals would raise protest if anyone tried to raise a human child in a cage. This is not saving the creatures, this is exploiting them.
- Eliot, Alaska
Is it possible for a bear to dive without doing a belly flop?
- ( Boy, UK
he was showing normal behavior by killing the fish, that's what bears do in the wild to survive...
- Wanda Purdy, MONTEZUMA,GA
"Polar bears are predators - they kill things like fish. Who is the psychopath here - Knut or Juergen Ortmueller?"
That depends on how they are brought up and handled though doesn't it.
- Mark, UK
I agree with Linda, and in addition I doubt he would have smothered himself in blood if he was furnished with silverware or napkins.
- Don Larson, LeSueur MN, USA
I love to see the polar bears swim!
- Alex, Scottsdale, AZ USA
Just think of the love and friendship around the world that Knut & now the beautiful Flocke brings. I enjoy seeing the pictures every morning of these precious, innocent, and intelligent polar bears. Thank you Germany, as you have proven what life & love are about. Sincerely, Vic & Heather.
- Heather Felicioni, Scottsdale, AZ. USA
Polar bears are predators - they kill things like fish. Who is the psychopath here - Knut or Juergen Ortmueller?
- Linda Silver, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
