London, Sept 23: A German zookeeper who nourished celebrity polar bear cub Knut at a Berlin zoo after his mother rejected him at birth has been found dead at his home

Berlin Police said that when authorities arrived, Thomas Doerflein, 44, had already passed away.

They had no information on the reason behind the death, reports Timesonline.

Doerflein rose to fame in Germany and around the world last year for his role in raising Knut by hand after the polar bear was abandoned by his mother in 2006.

In July 2007, Doerflein’s public performances frolicking with the cub had to end because Knut grew too large.

Last November, he was awarded Berlin’s medal of merit. (ANI)