Photo Gallery Bear Tragedy in Kassel
Nena the bear was shot dead by a police officer after she escaped from a circus in Kassel, Germany.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
The bear bit the officer twice on the leg. He then drew his service pistol and shot her five or six times.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Katja (left) also escaped with Nena. However she was caught and put back in the cage with the circus's third brown bear, Petra (right).
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
It is not clear how the two bears escaped from their enclosure.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Circus employees remove Nena's dead body from a stream. The bear was near a busy highway when she was shot.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Circus director Daniel Renz (middle) examines Nena's body.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Renz criticized what he called the "disproportionate" action of the police officer.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Nena was "like a member of the family," Renz told the news agency DPA.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Pompom the clown discusses the incident with Renz.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Katja the bear gives Renz a lick. Renz said that Nena was 25 years old and had hardly any teeth left.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
Dany Renz, son of circus director Daniel Renz, holds up a picture of Nena in happier times. Police defended the officer's action, saying that the escaped bear posed a danger to the public.
Read the article: Police Officer Criticized for Shooting Escaped Bear
