Knut the Polar Bear: A Retrospective

Knut was born on 5 December, 2006 to a former circus bear and her mate. For unknown reasons, his mother abandoned both him and him twin brother. Sadly, Knut's brother died only four days later.

When the Berlin Zoo decided to raise Knut by hand, zookeeper Thomas Dörflein became the polar bear's caregiver. Baby Knut required around-the-clock care; Dörflein in essence became the cub's father.

Because Knut looked like this...

...He became a huge hit when he was presented to the public for the first time on 23 March, 2007. He was also the first polar bear to have been born and survive in the Berlin Zoo for 30 years-- a notable achievement.

Even polar bears can facepalm.

A playful Knut attacks a zookeeper's foot.

Ready or not, here Knut comes!

Photographer Annie Leibovitz shot Knut, pictured here with Leonardo DiCaprio, for Vanity Fair's 2007 "Green" issue.

In 2007, the Berlin Zoo teamed up with Turtle Pond Publications to create a children's book called Knut, der kleine Eisbärenjunge (Little Polar Bear Knut). The book both told Knut's life story and sought to draw awareness to the growing issue of global warming.

He was also featured on a commemorative stamp in 2008.

Knut with his zookeeper daddy. Sadly, Thomas Dörflein passed away of a sudden heart attack on 22 September, 2008.

Knut grew to love the attention he received from his adoring public - though it's possible that this love became unhealthy. If there were no people nearby watching him, Knut began to grow distressed and angry.

As cute as Baby Knut was, though, all babies have to grow up someday, and Knut was no exception. He admittedly got a little less cute when he hit his second birthday, but he continued to be a star.

Eventually Knut got so big that he had to be put on a diet.

In 2008, the Neumünster Zoo, which owned Knut's father, brought a dispute up against the Berlin Zoo. The Berlin Zoo ended up paying €430,000 ($599,721) to keep the bear in Berlin.

When Knut grew to adulthood, his fur lost its sparkly whiteness and grew yellow and long. He did, however, keep his remarkable personality. A female polar bear named Giovanna looked to be a potential mate for Knut when she was relocated from the Hellabrunn Animal Garden, but alas, it was not to be; Giovanna was returned to Hellabrunn when repairs on her enclosure were completed.

The cuddly bear as we all remember him, on the cover of the March 2007 German issue of Vanity Fair.