It’s a sad day today, I learned that over the weekend, the global sensation of a Polar Bear known as Knut, passed away over the weekend.

Back in 2007 I was pretty obsessed with Knut, as you can see by this list of postings from his early years:Polar Bear pics of the day, Some articles about Polar Bear Knut, I love that Polar Bear Knut!, and My Polar Bear pic of the Day. I think my fasination with Knut was how close to Peanut’s nickname of Nut it was. And this was a pretty cute little polar bear.

Sad news, extremely sad news, I just hope that this doesn’t happen to another polar bear in captivity.

You can read the beginning of the article below from Discovery News:

Knut the Polar Bear Dies Young

Analysis by Tim Wall

Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:22 AM ET

Animals lovers around the world mourn the loss of beloved polar bear, Knut.

Knut died in his enclosure at the Berlin Zoo Saturday morning. Eyewitnesses told the zoo that he was sitting on rocks when his left leg began to shake. Knut then walked in circles until he fell into the water.

He was pronounced dead on the scene. Zoo workers raised a screen around the bear’s enclosure, then soon after closed the zoo.

Click the link to read the rest of the article from Discovery News.