Killing Knut would be nuts

This is just ridiculous. Very few polar bears successfully breed in captivity and the little guy in question here, was rejected by his mother and subsequently rescued by zoo workers who kept him alive by hand feeding him. Now German experts are calling for euthanizing the little bear.

A fluffy polar bear cub called Knut, who has become a media celebrity, should be given a lethal injection according to German zoologists, who say he has become too dependent on humans.

“Hand-feeding is not appropriate to the species and is a grave violation of the animal protection laws,” said Frank Albrecht, an animal rights campaigner. “Legally speaking, the zoo should kill the baby bear. Otherwise it is condemning the bear to a dysfunctional life and that too is a breach of the law.”

Excuse me for noticing, but the bear is living in a farookin zoo. Isn't that by definition a dysfunctional life? I wouldn't be surprised if the mother rejected the cub because either her own maternal and survival instincts are screwed up from living years in captivity or she thought it was better for the babe to die than have to live its life in a cage. But in any event the choice was made at birth to save the bear cub and killing it now to save it would not only be stupid, it would be cruel.