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Sean Gallup / Getty Images
A visitor photographs a model of Knut the polar bear, that features Knut's original fur, at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Adorable in life, still attracting admirers in death: Knut the polar bear's hide has been mounted on a polyurethane body and is going on display in a Berlin museum.
The Natural History Museum on Friday unveiled the statue prepared by taxidermists featuring the famous Berlin Zoo bear's fur and claws, with the synthetic body and glass eyes.
The display runs through March 15. Knut will then be added to the museum's scientific collections.
Knut was hand-raised after his mother rejected him. He rose to stardom in 2007 as a cuddly cub, appearing on magazine covers, in a film and on mountains of merchandise. He died in 2011 after suffering from encephalitis.
The museum dismissed criticism of the decision to display Knut, saying it gives everyone an opportunity to see him.
The Associated Press
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Grotesque, as all stuffed animals are laying on some hunters floor or nailed to their wall. If we want to see living things things that have died from the past, why haven't we stuffed people? What's the difference? Washington, Lincoln, and so many others, all great figures. Wouldn't we like to see them on display as well? If not, why not? Better yet, don't screw with any dead beings, give them the dignity WE ALL deserve!
Paul Hester
Well, they used to mummify people. I mean, they weren't on display, but THEY didn't know that...
@iowa:
You wrote this:
The answer is that there are "stuffed people" on display, where one of the classic and quite surreal examples is Jeremy Benthan, whose deceased body is on permanent display at University College London, where it has been on display since 1850 . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham#Death_and_the_Auto-Icon
And then there are the human bodies plasticized and displayed by German artist Gunther von Hagens, which according to unfounded rumors are based on the original work done at the end of the Second World War by Smithsonian Institute taxidermists using advanced alien technologies provided by the Department of Defense in the late-1940s to plasticize the carcasses of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, which currently are on display for the betterment and enlightenment of our leaders in an ULTRA TOP SECRET viewing room deep within the Pentagon, along with the recently plasticized carcasses of Saddam Hussein and his evil cousin Ali Hassan Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (a.k.a., "Chemical Ali"), Muammar Gaddafi, and Osama bin Laden, which among other things is the only plausible explanation for the fact that no matter how liberal and pacifistic a newly-elected President might be, once the Oath of Office is administered and the President is given a tour of what one might call the "Greatest Hits" viewing room deep within the Pentagon, the required epiphany occurs, really . . .
Really! :-o
I thought this was a cute story. Nobody killed him just to mount him.
Baldenario, Interesting sir. You really did your homework. Can we agree that "in general" humans are not stuffed after whatever death befalls them? Animals have been stuffed after being murdered by hunters by the millions, since such practices began. Stuffed as a beloved pet, etc. However, even when human have been stuffed, or had a plastic cast made of them, it is in the utmost secrecy, except Mr. Benthan. I take your point though, and I would say doing those things to the individuals you described so well is equally grotesque. No offence meant. Thanks for the information.
Roy had Triger stuffed when she died. So does that make Roy Rogers a bad guy.
what's PETA reaction or the joke world wildlife fund (WWF) please send money because the polar bears are running out of ice !
solution "stuff them and put them in a museum" problem solved !
Mike, you're such a jerk. I've never seen you have anything worthwhile to contribute to these threads. Why you waste everyone's time is a mystery.
I ... oh, I forgot, I am ignoring you; and I have never regretted my decision. BTW, the World Wildlife Fund is a Class A charity.
You've obviously never seen or heard of the Bodies Exhibit.
http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kJmypE1DGQ
Not for the squemish
i have seen the bodies exhibit and it is disgusting...the whole idea of taking unclaimed bodies and doing that is horrible...
@ iowa-61 Dead beings are no longer being. The being has moved on to another form of energy and the only beings in the dead body are those that decompose it.
Google BodyWorks for the Human Displays.
Maybe technically correct; but people who have passed on, especially Ascended Masters (i.e., Jesus), are still referred to as "beings", for convenience of communication.
Iowa, actually they do mount and display human bodies. Did you know in Australia rabbits are like rats and noone would ever think of eating one but in parts of the US they are a delicacy and actively hunted for their meat. The perception of "gross" is in the eye of the beholder.
FYI, Trigger (correct spelling) was a palomino stallion, thus a male and not female.
Fossil234, they are not unclaimed bodies in the BodyWorlds exhibit. They are people who decided and gave informed consent to donate their bodies specifically to that exhibit because they wanted their bodies used for scientific and educative purposes after their death. And to remind you of another point, Knut died of natural causes and was not hunted for his pelt, therefore, it is not out of malice that they are displaying him in this manner but also for educative purposes as well.
Also PETA murders animals. Go to www.petakillsanimals.com if you don't believe me. Do some research before you make unfounded statements so you don't risk sounding ignorant.
Remember this, folks - in the WILD, the POLAR BEAR is the ONLY animal that will actively and routinely HUNT PEOPLE
They say we taste just like chicken.
Enneagram1, Actually, "they" say we taste like pork. But that's for another time.
Folks remember the bear died, he was much loved and now everybody can see him. Instead of saying its gross, enjoy the beauty of the bear, without having killed it. It's a way of honoring the bear. As for most hunters, atleast the ones I know,they use every possible part of an animal that they hunt. They don't waste anything, and most also bring a bone or something from their hunt back to the place where they got it, asa " giving back, and thanking" type thing.
I don't know what polar bears taste like but from what I heard, bears in general taste like garbage when cooked. Even Native Americans didn't hunt bears for the meat. They were hunted primarily for the skins and bones and the meat was used for bait for other animals.
I don't buy that for a minute. The "hunters" never do explain how it is they think they have the right to take the life away from another living being in the first place, do they?
When I said "they", I meant the polar bears.
Knut is gone, to me this is exploitation.
I agree. I'm not much of a sentimental person, but this seems macabre when the animal had such close relations with humans and was so loved. His keeper passed away too--would it be much different to stuff him too? I mean, then everyone could have a chance to see them together! As a biologist, I have prepared study skins from birds and mammals for a university museum, but I would not be able to skin one of my affectionate pet rats.
Animals are displayed all over in museums and stores like cabellas, why not use the hides from animals that everyone liked? NBD to me....
Why was iowa-61 comment collapsed? Was there anything in it that so many found objectionable? Seems there was, but what? 16 people liked it. Hmm....
Well said, Paul Hester! A stuffed dead animal is obscene.
Dead animal...just like road kill, only stuffed
Sorry bill-765872, I didn't mean to "like" your thoughts. I was thinking you were Fawna. Please deduct my "like". Thank you.
Now I won't be able to sleep at night because someone wanted to unlike my comments..woe is me
But unlike road kill, they're not flat.
Roadkill with fix-a-flat. Who's Fawna? Bill's wife? You better lay off that shlt Paul.
bill-765872, I do hope you get well soon.
cheetah-822547, If I could speak redneck, I might understand you.
We love Knut forever. And museum in Berlin made very wrong decision about this. Sorry for them.
They made a decision, a decision. Not wrong because you disagree with it. The museum will miss you and your contributions.
This is retarded. Everything is objectionable to someone. Its dead, neither it nor its family even comprehends dignity. On the other hand I'd feel great if you offered to stuff me and put me in a museum at my death. Dignity at death is for those who mourn the image of their dead loved ones and who contemplate their own mortality. Stop projecting your needs on animals and expecting the rest of us to pretend its real.
Thank you a guy, that was beautifully written. A glimmer of sanity has surfaced, and of all places, here in the comments section. Thank you.
Animals do not have a sense of their own impending death? Hmmm, you have never lived with dogs since your childhood, eh?
to a guy--please refrain from using ..this is 'retarded' not a good description!!
Guy said animals have no sense of dignity not sense of impending death. If I laid in my driveway and licked my back side would I have a sense of dignity?
Really Roger 52? Is that the best you can add to this discussion?
like it or not his point is valid
a guy-3262484, And you know your information is the "truth" how? Have you ever seen animals mourn? Where did you learn animals don't have a sense of their own death? Did one ever tell you sir? Please tell me more of these "facts" of yours, I'm fascinated!
You're projecting your needs on/of humans and expecting the rest of us to pretend its real.
Paul - a guy may have never heard of animals mourning, but I have read reports and seen video of mother elephants mourning the loss of their young, I have also read reports of dogs mourning the loss of thier human, so in my case I believe they mourn.
Hollykb, I have seen my own animals mourn the death of another in my household. Elephants, Bison, mourn and grieve often as a group, and individually too. It's incredible to watch, and for those of us with "feelings and awareness" like yourself, quite sad as well. As well, the many animals, like you mention, that have lost their human, is very true and I have seen this personally. Thanks Holly for your insight. - Paul
I had Frenchie, a dog that pasted away, I love dearly. We had this other little dog, Tiny he was so close too her. When she died and we buried her, we kept Tiny in side. When he went out side he went to her grave. He would look so sad, He would look at her grave and look at me he knew. Within two weeks Tiny grieved his self to death. And by the way Frenchie died from old age she was 16yrs old. ( So they do Mourn ) And Tiny had not been sick a day of his life...
Animals mourn sure, but do you expect any live polar bears to walk through the berlin museim, spot Knut and be like OMG THE TRAUMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no you dont.........the sense of wonderment that Knut fosters in that museum will help keep animals alive in the future. Sitting there stuffed is the most noble thing he could do for the animal kingdom. Blame industrialization not the museum
It appears to me this would be something the Germans were, and apparently still are, quite proficient at performing. Since they are no longer able to skin Jews, they now use animals. The only difference about this horrible act is now we are told about it. Never underestimate the intelligence of an animal or their ability to express emotions. I have seen my own fur babies mourn for their companions, looking for them, crying and bringing toys to their favorite places in my home. Just because they can't use words to speak, they can communicate what they feel. I am a woman and I wish I had met someone Like Paul who understands where I am coming from.
If Knut had been killed to be used as a display piece that would be different. I don't find this in bad taste at all. Remember,this is just the shell of Knut,the real Knut is up in Heaven running around in God's open land. Berlin must of thought very highly of Knut to keep his body on display after he passed on. I wonder if the same naysayers think the same of Russia keeping Lenin's deceased body on display for many years.
History of Knut's death: He was very distressed in his man made concrete habitat, alone. He began circling and circling, which is what many animals do when they have suffered from the complete lack of things that they need to remain mentally healthy. Extreme confinement and lack of any social contact are two of the main factors in these horrifying and routine cases. Fur bearing animals that are only alive to be murdered for their skin, do this often, almost without exception. Knut had a seisure, very likely due to his extreme stress level, fell into the water and drowned. Does this make for a cute story? Please watch the video of his death: http://youtu.be/YlC1KIlVYyw Very sad! -Paul
Paul, the article said, "He died in 2011 after suffering from encephalitis." That would explain all the symptoms you mentioned. I watched the video in your link. He fell the water because he could not walk, was twitching and drooling. Of course he could not swim in that condition. Fur bearing animals do this often you say, I think it is captive animals. Meat bearing animals would do this also if they had not been bread stupid. People will do this in prison as well. Not sure what my point is here only that your condescending posts are irritating and inaccurate.
We routinely drive whales insane in places like SeaWorld for all the reasons Paul mentioned. Read what the whale research scientists have to say about this practice of ours.
I would agree with you Paul if the polar bear was living in a healthy environment before hand, but in this case they said the mother rejected Knut, so Knut would hve died long ago, so they actually gave Knut a few good years he wouldnt have had at all, as for Knut's dignity, I wonder if Knut would have cared about your dignity if you were in the cage with him while he was hungry, He was an animal, he's dead, I really think we are thinking too much about this!!!
Please note..I love animals, hate bullfights and against dog fighting and such but lets be real there isnt anything wrong here!!
Sean H.
His cause of death was from drowning. Knut was circling around and around with loss of coordination due to encephalitis. Anyone wondering how he developed encephalitis? Did he have any sytems that could have been treated? The encephalitis led to his seizure and falling into the water. I am wondering how closely he was cared for prior to his death; encephalitis does not arise out of nowhere.
Actually, there is a type that is from an unknown cause. If it isn't virus, fungi, bacteria, parasites, or tick transmitted disease, it is known as Idiopathic encephalitis (unknown cause).
The problem with the symptoms is that they could look like something else. I am wondering about the whole aggression/depression that he showed which ARE possible symptoms of encephalitis.
Sean.H, sorry you believe everything you want too and condemn the rest, but please use your own mind and don't rely on what you read as "always" the truth. Why do think my "condescending posts are irritating and inaccurate."
The necropsy, which is just another word for autopsy, which in my mind suggests man couldn't be an animal and had to have a different name for animals being examined after death. I got off topic there, but that has always shown to me man's superior feeling about himself over all other animals.
Back to the "necropsy", they found his brain was swollen, from an unknown source, perhaps as Checkmate-983933 suggested above. However, stress CAN cause any physical illness, and it certainly seemed he was stressed filled even from birth. The Zoo, making millions off of Knut, was of course, quick to deny he was under stress, after being confronted with this from various animal rights groups. To say Knut wasn't under "extreme" stress all of his short life, I believe would be dishonest. The Zoo would of course, not even entertain the "possibility" of stress induced illness, or a major mental health problem. It can't be proved either way. The Zoo took the path that made them look good ( a "necropsy", done internally at the Zoo, and claimed encephalitis, instead of admitting that isolated, captive animals can have the same symptoms. But to deny, outright, stress had nothing to do with Knut's death is highly suspect. Still not sure why so many people still believe what they are told by "officials" in this world, when so much is false or hidden from public scrutiny.
I'm simply making Knut's unfortunate death a larger argument ( exploiting it if yo want ), for all animals that "loose it", in very literal terms to the isolation and confinement of their living conditions. Such as animals to be killed for their skin for people to wear, not to keep warm, rather to seem glamorous in society. Watch a video on how fur farms kill the animals.
Even more "hidden" are "puppy mills". These animals go though the same conditions and exhibit the same symptoms as the somewhat "unluckier" captive animals at the fur factories. Many mothers are killed that can no longer produce puppies, fathers that can't perform, and many die of disease from the atrocious living conditions, i.e living in their own feces and urine that piles up beyond belief. The puppies themselves often die from disease and if born with any "non-life threatening" condition, that will not sell well at pet stores, are killed. Do we really find all this acceptable, or just prefer not to know or think about it because they are "just" animals. We are "just" animals too with that logic.
I'm a nut because I want a huge change in the lives of animals. People too, but between the two, humans have many more agencies looking after their welfare, than the animals. In fact there are no government agencies that are strictly for protecting animals, outside of NGO's ( Non Government Organizations). It would be pitting the government against itself to do so, when the government alone kills billions of animals every year, either directly or ensuring those killing floors continue to operate 24/7. So if I manage to expose the horrors we put animals through, and a few people change their lifestyle because of it, this is good. Each time, perhaps few more learn about things they never knew about, this is good too. So, I'm not going anywhere, and I know many of you have a suggestion of where I should go, and I appreciate the thought, but not just yet.
regards,
Paul Hester
A plaque, picture and donation box would have been better.
They stuffed Trigger, didn't they? I'm an avid animal lover and caretaker to many species and although I'd rather remember my own animals alive, I don't think this is bad. I think they meant it as an honor.... which is quite different than killing an animal for its antlers.
I agree. It is a nice memorial and way to honor this animal. That fur is beautiful and it would be sad to just let it rot. All this boo hoo is obscene IMO. Animals die everyday and I see nothing wrong in taxidermy if that is what someone wishes. I have read of pet owners doing the same after they die. It brings back memories of what they meant to them besides a photo or painting. Nothing wrong with it.
Such a well loved animal deserves a better resting place.
Agreed 100%
He looks relaxed to me
Actually, I think the wax museum is just as bad if not worse. Looking at a lot of dead people gives me the willies.
Don't go and look. Wax statues are just statues with color. A shrink can help you with your willies.
PETA will get him with their petroleum based spray paint. Then their heads will expode from the confusion at the next anti-oil protest. The ones that survive will drown trying to save a dolphin.
Gross
Looks like a symbol to the environmental "knuts", akin to the Golden Calf...
Clearly, you do not understand the environmental Knuts if you think a dead polar bear on display in a museum is our symbol.
You're kidding...right? The polar bear is the excuse the environmentalists use to say we're destroying the earth. "The polar bears are drowning! The polar bears are drowning!"
I don't think enviornmentalists need any excuse to prove that we are destroying our enviornment, and much of the wildlife that is endangered.
Anything for a buck...Makes'ya proud to be part of the human race...
exactly. if there were no profit in it, I doubt they would have stuffed him.
after i die i want to be stuffed and put on display too!
Dee, FYI, you can. Sign the authorization for plastination and you too can become part of the Anatomy class where thousands of incoming freshman will get a good look at you to learn about the human body. Understand that you will be naked. Still interested?
Yeppers, nekid and DEAD... Point and laugh all you want. I'm dead and wont care.
antipackerz, you're so right., the bear named Knut is no longer on this earth. He is with his Creator. This display was done to honor the bear, as many people love him. He wasn't killed for this specific purpose. As for how he was treated in his life, well, is that info from only one source? Can't believe everything on the Net, ya know. Iowa, you're the one projecting your needs onto the animals. I think all of us here agree that most animals do have feelings, are intelligent, to a certain degreee, and able to show unconditional love. However, to say that animals' "feelings" are the exact same as humans is kinda out there. Animals live "in the moment", time is not relevent to them as it is to humans. Yes, animals have an "inner clock" similar to humans; how else does Spot know it's "time" for her to wait at the door for her human to be home from work? Any animal person knows that animals indeed do grieve, but they don't dwell on it like humans. They really have no true concept of "time" as humans understand it, animals live in the "here and now". I'm not convinced that animals are the pure definition of sentient beings, in that they aren't capable of perceptions.
My dog perceives when I am happy or sad, and can perceive other things....
Better do some research on animal intelligence. Crows and dolphins to name a few are self-aware and are completely capable of perceptions, problem solving, are able to count, use other species technologies (ours) to problem solve, form social structures to insure survival, have delayed reproduction so that their young can learn what it means to be a ___________.
Gee, kind of starting to sound an awful lot like a human, eh?
Catwoman, if animals are only living in the moment, how do you explain caching food for future use and remembering where they put it? That takes intention, a concept of future, and memory.
They do not have to be equal to us in order to be considered worthy. They are different, not less. (But, as long as we look at them to be only genetically driven, without any thought process, they are not deserving of our respect and then we go out and make life a living hell for them. What if the tables were turned? How would we like to live by the rules we have set for the rest of the living beings on this earth? I bet we would not like it one bit.)
Some animals are very much self-aware: dolphins and orcas, elephants, crows ravens and jays, parrots, some of the great apes. If you believe in evolution, you can see that many characteristics such as self-awareness, altruism, complexity of communication, etc. exist upon a spectrum rather than separating us from all other species. They are all extremely social species that scientists believe are more intelligent and aware than mammals and birds that live in solitary.
Animals are not capable of perception? If you have a dog that you walk on a leash and he enjoys his walks, how is it then if you have the leash in your hand, the dog will get excited, wags it's tail, and run to the door? Going for a walk on a leash is not instinctual. By picking up the leash, the dog perceives he is going for a walk.
All great and thoughtful comments on Catwoman32, comment #20. For the United States, I believe this sums up our, ( many of us to be sure) willingness to abuse, kill and do what we want to animals for our desires compared to other countries "beginning" to change in favor of protecting animals: "The European Union officially recognizes animals as sentient in the sense that they are able to feel and suffer. The US has laws that pertain to animal treatment but do not address whether or not animals are sentient."
So where are the animals that self terminate? Where is the wilder beast that wades into the river and lets the crock get it? Where is the gazelle that stops dead in its tracks to let the cheetah catch it?
There are none.
You folks who put animals before humanity REALLY scare the hell out of me and I lived on a commune for almost a decade.
I would rather feed, clothe and educate the homeless than worry about a stuffed bear in a museum 3k miles away.
I think they did a great honor to this bear. He wasn't killed as a "trophy". He touched the hearts of millions and now future generations can see him. I don't have a problem with it, and yes, you can stuff me too when I die and put me on display, because if I don't mind if you do it now, I'm sure I will care even less after I'm dead and gone...
Not Cool!~ i am not an activist, but i believe in respecting all Nature's creatures. I am so ashamed sometimes of being a human being sometimes, there's plenty of photographers that could use some change to take photo's of this Bear when this Bear was alive, isn't photographs enough?,... Very Sad!.
Ike, Since You're From Austin I Can Easily See Why You Are Ashamed. If Mack Brown Wasn't Such A Loser I Bet You Wouldn't Have A Problem Stuffing Him. "BOOMER"
The bad part of this story is here: we are very interested in this bear as a stuffed museum display. Change our life style, get off of fossil fuels, pressure the living daylights out of our governments on all levels to do that, so we can preserve this bear*s habitat, thus ability to survive? NOT ON YOUR F****ING LIFE.
WE ARE AMERICANS. WE HAVE RIGHTS AND THOSE RIGHTS INCLUDE DRIVING OTHER SPECIES INTO EXTINCTION SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR SELF ABSORBED, SELFISH, IMMATURE, BRATTY LIFESTYLE.
The worst karma in the world would be to reincarnate as a human. God, we are a disgusting species.
You do realize Americans did not stuff Knut, right?
True jdenoyon, however we are one animal stuffing country that kills (murders) animals just for their dead bodies to be stuffed or their skin worn as a symbol of social status. Millions of murdered animals are worn, lay on the floors, or hang on the walls of Americans; such a testament to our humanity! Would you agree? - Paul
When Roy Rogers died he had his horse stuffed and mouted - his wife said she wanted the same thing for her
Judgeing from the comments it seems that the problem lies in how an individual percieves honor for the dead. One persons honor of the dead becomes another persons sees as abhorrent. I think the truth lies in the intention of the individual as to whether a way is right or wrong. If someone intends to do honor to the memory of a dead individual (or animal) then I think that whatever method is used should be respected. The dead have gone and it is just a shell, and if that shell can be used to alleviate some grief for the living then I have no problem with that.
I think you are right. The next part of your identified problem comes from this: who gets to be right?
The people who think that the bear should have passed in peace and let go? Or, the people who think that it is OK to turn him into a museum display?
And the issue gets a little more complicated, eh?
Sialia, I think it should have been put to a vote since it was the community that loved him however it's not a complicated issue. Obviously the people who owned him get to make the decision... and so they did. Whether that decision is a good or bad one will play out in the ticket sales.