PETA Wants Knut Castrated
CliffB
Castrate Knut, say animal rights activists
Published: 3 Mar 10 09:16 CET
An animal rights group called on Tuesday for Knut the polar bear, who
shot to global stardom as a cub in 2007, to be castrated to avert
incest with his cousin.
The three-year-old darling of Berlin Zoo was given a female companion,
Giovanna, last year but the German chapter of People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA) warned against their mating.
The group's zoo expert, Frank Albrecht, noted that Knut and Giovanna,
known as Gianna for short, had the same grandfather.
Any offspring would threaten the genetic diversity of the polar bear
population in Germany and risk susceptibility to a condition known as
"incest depression", he said.
"Knut fans need to know that only Knut's castration would allow a long
life together with Giovanna," Albrecht said in a statement.
Gianna had lived in Munich but was placed with the strapping Knut in
Berlin due to construction work on her own den.
After chilly introductions, the two have gradually grown quite close.
The housing arrangement, however, was initially intended to be
temporary.
Knut drew an outpouring of sympathy around the globe after his mother
cast him out as a cuddly cub.
The cult of Knut spread around the world and his first public
appearance attracted some 500 reporters, including around 100 camera
crews.
At the height of his fame, Knut featured on the front page of a host
of glossy magazines, including Vanity Fair.
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Let’s keep our paws off Knut’s balls - Analysis & Opinion (3 Mar 10)
william hubbard
If towelheads can mary their cousins, why not knut?