Thomas Dörflein

Thomas Dörflein (13 October 1963 – 22 September 2008) was a German zookeeper at the Berlin Zoological Garden for 26 years. After the polar bear cub Knut was abandoned by his mother shortly after his birth in 2006, Dörflein was assigned as the cub's caretaker. As a result of the zoo's controversial decision to raise Knut by hand, and the resultant close relationship between keeper and animal, Dörflein became a reluctant celebrity.

He is interred in Berlin-Spandau, In den Kisseln Cemetery.

Gallery

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    Thomas Dörflein

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  April 2007

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  April 2007

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  April 2007, with US-Ambassador William R. Timken

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  April 2007

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  September 2008: Flowers and condolences left at the entrance to the Berlin Zoo after the death of zookeeper Thomas Dörflein

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