Apr 14 2009
Breaking News: Woman Visiting Berlin Zoo is Injured by Polar Bear (Not Knut!)
Knut, a polar bear born in captivity at the Berlin Zoo in Germany, that became a media sensation. He was rejected by his mother and raised by a zookeeper. After a controversial statement by an animal rights activist to a German newspaper, the small furry creature was introduced to the world on “Knut Day” in 2007 in front of 400 journalists from the around the world. Knut’s image has been used in commercials, there are several Knut the Polar Bear stuffed animals available, and Cuddly Knut gummi bear has become extremely popular.
The star polar bear has become a major tourist attraction for Berlin, Germany and thousands of guests have visited to catch a glimpse and take a picture.
Unfortunately, some visitors have also tried to touch the famous bear. According to an article on MSN, most recently, on Friday, April 10th, a “woman, who has not been identified, climbed down a fence, over a wide hedge full of thorns and got past a concrete wall before swan diving into the murky moat where the polar bears swim.”
She was attacked in the enclosure by an older polar bear, not Knut, the celebrity bear and was taken to Berlin hospital with bites to her arms and legs.
No information about the woman’s motives have been reported, but the Berlin Zoo has stated that it will not be making any changes to its current securities. One zoo spokeman is quoted as saying: “People who want to jump in will always find a way.”
Thoughts? Should the Berlin Zoo do more to keep people away from the polar bears, including Knut? How much responsibility does a tourist destination have to its visitors?
Photos from Zoo Berlin.
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I heard about this story and first let me say Knut is adorable. I love Polar bears. In fact I love all bears. We had an incident hear at the SF Zoo over a year ago with some kids teasing a tiger who apparently jumped his enclosure and killed one of the men. Different situation but I think that personally the zoo should only think about security measures as to the animals getting out. It their enclosures are such that animals cannot get out then I think it’s okay. You cannot stop some nut case from trying to get into the animal cages or habitats. They are not liable for crazy people.
Let’s just say that I think this lady is a good candidate for the Darwin award. I don’t think zoos should have to go to extra measures to protect people from their own lack of common sense. As long as the animals can’t get out of their enclosure, and curious kids can’t *easily* reach them (such as put their hands through bars) then I think the zoo can not be at fault.
Great points, jodapoet and laneerg! It sounds to me like the zoo has taken some great steps–the lady did climb down a fence, go through a headge of thorns, go over a concrete wall, and swim a moat. What else can the zoo do?
I remember the California kids with the tiger–it did sound different, because, if I remember correctly, the kids had been drinking and were teasing the tiger; but, again, stupid.