Knut the polar bear's death could have been avoided: PETA

PETA has claimed that Knut - the famous German polar bear who passed away in his habitat of an unknown cause -could have been saved.

The four-year-old bear rose to stardom when he was hand-raised by the Berlin Zoo keepers after being rejected by his mother at birth.

A representative for PETA said they contacted to Berlin Zoo months ago to alert them to the fact that the bear was being "terrorised" by three female polar bears - including his own mother!

"PETA Germany repeatedly asked zoo authorities to move Knut away from the three females to a different location. His premature death could possibly have been avoided. Polar bears don't belong in captivity," TMZ quoted the representative as saying.

A necropsy is planned for Monday to determine the cause of death.