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Gianna's in Berlin, First Date With Knut Coming Soon!

PetSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:35:07 -0700

Over a month ago, this pretty Polar Bear made the news as the future romantic interest (hopefully) of Knut the cute. Hailing from Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo, she's now on display in Berlin and ready for her love connection.

The 2-year-old gal will explore the enclosure of the world-famous bear, but they will not meet face-to-face until special measures are implemented. Knut's never encountered another animal since his mama cast him aside as a cub. A "canoodling fence" will eventually separate them, and if the sparks are there then this duo will join forces in one spot. Sweet.

See more of Gianna learning the lay of the land when you read more.

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Who Is "Zoo Cute" in Berlin?

PetSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:30:26 -0700

All my past joking aside, Germany has some famously furry zoo animals! From Flocke (in Nuremberg) to Rosalie and Jasper (in Hanover), I can't get enough. However, first and foremost is Berlin - home of two zoo-mazing establishments, Tierpark Berlin on the east side and Berlin Zoologischer Garten on the west. I've gathered my top 10 zoo babies from this city as a fun finish to your Friday. Can you predict number one? Click through and see!

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Hamburg's Hungry, Hungry (Baby) Hippos Have Hairy Faces?!

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:00:43 -0800

I guess I've never seen a hippo that close up to compare, but look how hairy the face is! This happy family lives in Hamburg, Germany – the babies, born in November and January, were the first to join the zoo in a number of years. OK, so maybe I don't know if they're hungry but they certainly seem thirsty and to love playing in water . . . see pictures below for evidence of splashiness.

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It's Swimtime For Berlin's Baby Hippo!

PetSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:15:41 -0800

Although it isn't Monifa (who's currently a close second in our cutest zoo baby of '08 poll), this equally adoro hippo is having some watery fun with mama, Kati, at the Berlin Zoo! Born less than a month ago on Nov. 29, it makes sense that the yet-unnamed babe can already swim since many hippopotamuses are born underwater with the mom pushing the lil one to the surface to breathe, and even nursing while in there.

See more underwater shots from today's public debut when you read more.

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Happy Second Birthday, Knut the Cute!

PetSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:05:18 -0800

The fella I'd name the world's most famous polar bear (followed by Flocke) celebrates his second birthday today at Zoo Berlin! That means Knut got even more visitors than usual . . . and a special dessert. 'Cause, really, what's a birthday without cake and ice cream? Of course, bears can't eat chocolate buttercream (my fave), so his "cake" was made of vegetable in ice – well, I bet he enjoyed it anyway.

This bear's faced some tough times from dealing with fame to the death of his BFF and original caretaker, Thomas Doerflein earlier this year but he's doing a-OK now.

Check out more piccys of Knut's birthday celebration and read more.

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Have You Ever Seen a Vicuña? (Hint: Check Out Baby Antonio.)

PetSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:00:34 -0700

These llama-like creatures are actually the smallest members of the camel family, rarely weighing over 130 pounds full-grown. Lil Antonio was born on Oct. 14 in the Zoologischer Garten in Berlin – the first of his species born at the zoo in 10 years.

Native to the Central Andes Mountains in South America, the rare Vicuñas have been heavily exploited for their coat, which is said to make the best wool in the world.

Enough facts. Now it's time for more cute when you read more.

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The Scoop: Knut's Caretaker Dies

PetSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:38 -0700

You remember Knut the cute, right? Sadly this Polar Bear will have to celebrate his next birthday (come December) without his famous caretaker, Thomas Doerflein. The selfless German zookeeper that cared for one of the world's most recognizable creatures passed away this week – I've taken the time to honor his life with the bear in this slideshow.

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The Scoop: Baby Tiger Antares Is a Cutie!

PetSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:30:13 -0700

It's one small step for tigers as lil Antares takes a tentative stumble at his enclosure at the Tierpark Berlin in Germany yesterday. The 121st tiger cub was born at this zoo on June 23 and just had a public debut. As you can see, he's all ready for his closeup . . . and already knows how to tilt his fuzzy head just so. Arrgh, I'm such a sucker for baby animals.

Melting. And. Can. Not. Help. It. See more Siberian Tiger cuteness when you read more.

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This Rhino Cutie Is Only Four Days Old!

PetSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Meet Manjula – this baby Indian rhinoceros was born on April 29 at Zoo Berlin in Germany to mom Betty and dad Patna. In fact, she was born smack dab Sunday afternoon so hundreds of zoo visitors got to watch her birth on the spot! Whoa. She'll grow up to be a whopping
3,500 pounds but I couldn't resist welcoming this lil one with an adoro gallery of her baby pictures – see for yourself when you read more.

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Quick-Thinking Zookeepers Save Woman From Hungry Bears

PetSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:35:11 -0700

Last Friday, a 32-year-old woman leaped a fence and scaled a wall to jump into a Berlin Zoo enclosure holding four polar bears (including Knut). Six zookeepers attempted to distract the bears, but she was still bitten several times by one of the creatures. Even though it was their normal feeding time, she was able to be pulled out safely – minus those injuries – and was rushed to the hospital for surgery. Now after my initial shock, I flashbacked to a similar situation that so disturbed me as a child, that I instantly recalled that story when hearing this one. Learn what stuck in my head some 22 years later, when you read more.

In 1987, three kids broke into the Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo after dark, and attempted to swim in the polar bears' moat. One child was attacked by the bears, locals called police when hearing yells but, by the time the officials arrived, the animals had eaten both his legs . . . and the officers shot and killed both bears. As a child, I was unable to comprehend most of this situation, including why they still killed Teddy and Lucy. Now, I assume we'll hear more about this 32-year-old woman's motives in coming weeks, but I commend the Berlin Zoo's quick-thinking keepers to attempt to save this women without instantly harming the bears in the process.

Wenn.com