What Really Caused Knut's Death

Nearly two weeks after the sudden death of Knut the polar bear on March 19, the final necropsy results were made public:

Knut, who walked in circles before freezing up and falling into the water in his enclosure at the Berlin Zoo, drowned.

It was reported before that Knut died of brain anomalies.

While drowning was the immediate cause of death, experts who examined his body concluded that the underlying cause was encephalitis, or a swelling of the brain brought on by an infection.

The nature of the infection is unclear, explained the pathologist who led Knut’s examination, although it was probably caused by a virus.

According to reports, Knut carried the infection for quite a while, and it was so severe that it likely would have killed the bear eventually.

Why must the lives of child stars be so tragic?

We’ll miss our favorite polar bear!

[Image via WENN.]