Media celebrate Germany's newest polar bears
It was double the cuddle-factor at the Hellabrunn zoo in Germany, where twin polar bear cubs made their first appearance outdoors. Will they have the same media draw as Berlin's famous Knut?
Hello World!
It's a boy and a girl. Both polar bears are healthy according to zoo keepers. The little girl is a bit feistier and weighs 7 kilograms, one more than her brother. Neither of the cubs has a name yet.
Discovery tour
The twin polar bear cubs of mama Giovanna are 14 weeks old and already quite the attraction for the Hellabrunn zoo in Munich. Up to now the cubs have been kept out of the limelight.
A real sensation
The twin bears have been closely monitored and cared for since their birth on December 9, 2013. According to the animal rights organization PETA nearly 61 percent of polar bears born in captivity die in infancy.
In the spotlight
Nearly 90 media representatives were on hand to record the cubs' first public outing. Mama Giovanna is a media pro and accustomed to all the attention. After all, when she resided in the Berlin Zoo, she shared an enclosure with …
Kisses from Knut
… Polar Bear star Knut. Giovanna, shown here on the left, was the famous bear's partner from September 2009 until July 2010. To the dismay of Knut fans, the two never had cubs.
Polar bear hysteria
Knut's birth on December 5, 2006, launched a polar bear hysteria in Germany. It was the first time a polar bear had been born in the Berlin Zoo in 30 years. From around the world, people travelled to the city for the chance to see Knut.
Tragic end
Knut continued to charm visitors as an adult. But in 2011 Berlin's cuddle icon sadly passed away. After suffering an inflammation of the brain, Knut had a severe seizure. On March 19, 2011, under the gaze of his fans, he fell into the moat and drowned.
The memory lives on
Polar bear hype reached a climax during Knut's life time. He had his own stamps, tons of merchandising products like t-shirts and the ubiquitous stuffed animals. He even had his own songs, such as "Knut's doing fine." After his death, the Berlin Zoo erected a monument in his honor.