Posts tagged "polar bear"

PETA Calls For Knut the Polar Bear To Be Castrated

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Mar 9th 2010 11:00AM Filed Under: Pets News

If it were up to animal rights group, PETA, the world's most famous and beloved polar bear, Knut at the Berlin Zoo, would be castrated.

"Knut is sharing his quarters with another polar bear named Giovanna, who is his cousin," states PETA on its Web site, adding that Knut and Giovanna (whose nickname is Gianna) share the same grandfather. To avoid any possibility that the pair will mate and produce inbred offspring, PETA's Germany chapter is demanding that Knut be castrated.

"If Knut and Giovanna were to have any offspring, it could threaten the genetic diversity of Germany's polar bear population, and the new bears could be susceptible to a condition known as 'incest depression,'" says PETA, citing expert Frank Albrecht.

For all his celebrity -- he was photographed for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz, for example -- Knut has had a tough life. First, his mother -- a retired circus animal, according to People -- rejected Knut and his twin brother after giving birth in December 2006. Then Knut's twin brother died of a fungal infection. Knut was left alone to be hand-raised by humans. He managed to form an attachment to his devoted trainer, Thomas Dörflein, only to have Dörflein suddenly die in 2008.

Polar Bears' First Date Goes 'Strikingly' Well

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Oct 2nd 2009 4:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets

Photo: Markus Schreiber, AP

Knut the polar bear sure is growing up fast! Our fuzzy little guy had his first date earlier this week with Gianna, a three-year-old female polar bear on loan from the Munich Zoo, reports Huffington Post.

This is the first bear Knut has ever had contact with, and boy, did they ever make contact -- Gianna smacked Knut, reports People Pets. According to the site, Knut was (understandably) stunned to see another bear in his enclosure, and zookeeper Heiner Klos is quoted as saying, "It was as we expected it to be. Knut was very shy and the Munich bear was clearly the one wearing the dirndl."

(Is anyone else picturing a polar bear in a dirndl now? Or is that just us?)

While Gianna might be playing hard to get for now, plenty of hope is being held out that the two will, eventually, move beyond a platonic relationship and mate. Both bears have difficult backgrounds, according to People Pets. Knut, as you likely know, was rejected by his mother and hand-raised by Thomas Dörflein, who died suddenly last year. Knut has been lonely ever since. Gianna, meanwhile, had to be moved from an enclosure with a previous suitor after she developed an intense dislike for him.

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals