Knut Dead at Age 4.

Held in captivity his whole life, Berlin’s beloved polar bear Knut has died at age 4 of an apparent heart attack.

After getting into a small pool, Knut convulsed and died in front of over 600 visitors. Ten minutes later the park was sealed and visitors were sent away.

Polar bears in captivity tend to live 10 to 15 years so Knut’s death comes as a major shock. The zoo has not released the exact caused of death but experts say it is most likely a heart attack brought on by years in the stressful zoo environment

Knut had been the object of Germany’s affection since birth and helped the zoo raise countless millions in visitor’s fees and merchandise sales. The era of “Knutmania” is over.