Summary The bear died suddenly of an epileptic fit in March 2011.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Knut, the hand-reared polar bear who captured Germans hearts before his early death in 2011, returned to his adoring Berlin public on Friday as a life-sized model bearing the animal s real fur.
Knut will stand for a month in the entrance foyer of the city s natural history museum, which has modified its entrance for the anticipated rush of visitors, a museum spokeswoman said.
The museum is keen to stress that Knut has not been stuffed. Rather, a replica of the bear was made, based on Knut s skeleton, in one of his favorite poses, and this was covered with the creature s pelt, in a procedure known as dermoplasty.
The model has expressive eyes and a damp nose, museum director Johannes Vogel said.
"I think people will accept Knut, because this is a very dignified model.. People who knew Knut very well while he was alive recognize their Knut here again."
Knut was the star attraction of Berlin zoo during his four-year life. His mother rejected him as a new-born leaving the fluffy white cub to be reared by a zookeeper. Thousands of visitors queued for hours to watch him frolic in his enclosure, and he inspired a dizzying array of merchandise.
Other German zoos have tried in vain to create celebrity animals. None have ever come close to matching Knut s fame.
The bear died suddenly of an epileptic fit in March 2011.
