Photo Gallery Knut's First Date
Knut, on the right, had his first date on Tuesday when the polar bear Gianna joined him in his enclosure.
Knut was shy at first, but the two eventually approached one another. It was not, however, love at first sight. Gianna whacked Knut upside the head before things settled down.
In the days prior to their Tuesday meeting, Gianna, also known as Giovanna, spent some time getting used to Knut's enclosure. Here, she jumps into the algae covered moat.
Gianna will be staying with Knut for nine months while her enclosure in Munich is being renovated. She is originally from Italy.
Gianna had quite some fun getting used to Knut's enclosure. She, like Knut, is just shy of her third birthday, meaning that the relationship will remain platonic for the time being. The two have not yet reached sexual maturity.
Knut will be glad for the company. His best friend, zookeeper Thomas Dörflein, who raised him as a baby after Knut's mother rejected him, died unexpectedly last September. Here, Knut in his enclosure behind flowers placed there on the anniversary of Dörflein's death.
Knut is still a fan favorite at the Berlin zoo and has received close to 10 million visitors since he was first presented to the public in early 2007.
Knut the submarine.
