Knut's End

Knut died of drowning after convulsions caused him to fall into the water.

"Pathologist Claudia Szentiks said a necropsy of the four-year-old bear who died suddenly two weeks ago showed he was suffering from encephalitis, an irritation and swelling of the brain that was likely brought on by an infection. She added that even if Knut had not drowned after his collapse, he would not have survived the damage from the encephalitis."

His tumble and scream were striking. He seemed to know Something was attacking him and he tried to fight It in his degraded, clumsy manner. An honorable end to a life in captivity.