Knut, the hand-reared polar bear who captured Germans’ hearts before his early death in 2011, returned to his adoring fans on Friday as a life-sized model bearing the animal’s real fur.

Knut will stand for a month in the entrance foyer of the city’s natural history museum, which has modified its entrance for the anticipated rush of visitors, a museum spokeswoman said.

The museum is keen to stress that Knut has not been stuffed. Rather, a replica of the bear was made, based on Knut’s skeleton, in one of his favourite poses, and this was covered with the creature’s pelt.

Knut the star attraction of Berlin zoo during his four-year life.

The bear died suddenly of an epileptic fit in March 2011.

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