GERMANY: The aging mother of Knut, the famous hand-reared polar bear who captured German hearts and the world’s attention in his short life, was put down at Berlin Zoo yesterday because it was said she was blind, deaf, and suffering.

The zookeeper who became famous for hand-rearing Knut the polar bear was found dead in his Berlin apartment today.

BERLIN Zoo’s fast-growing polar bear cub Knut won’t be appearing anymore with the keeper who raised him.