Photo Gallery A Half-Meter Snowflake
Nuremberg Zoo's most famous resident, the baby polar bear cub Snowflake, is growing healthily and quickly in the care of zookeepers.
On Monday she received a check-up from the zoo's veterinarian.
"Our little girl weighs about 3,450 grams and is 48 centimeters long," said veterinarian Bernhard Neurohr. Her weight, 3,450 grams, is equal to around 7.5 pounds, and 48 centimeters is about 19 inches.
Zookeepers are mildly concerned at the quantity of hay that they are finding in little Snowflake's droppings, which means she's eating the bedding in her private enclosure. It could lead to constipation, they fear.
Snowflake was separated from her mother, Vera, earlier this month after mama bear began behaved erratically and dropped the cub several times. Zookeepers have decided to raise Snowflake with human hands, drawing criticism from some bear researchers who say it is unnatural.
But the little bear is winning fans the world over, and Snowflake's novel cuteness is creating competition for Knut, the male polar bear cub who created a sensation at the Berlin Zoo last year. Now "cute Knut" weighs 100 kg (220 pounds).
