Knut : To stuff or not to stuff

 So there is a controversy brewing in Berlin - to stuff or not to stuff Knut?  Read below for some more info.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/world/europe/12berlin.html?_r=1&hp

This has aroused some pretty powerful feelings.  There was a protest outside the zoo the day that we were there.  Complete with signs and buttons although there seemed to be as many reporters as protesters. And it was only about 100 or so people.
  Our friend Veronika said that folks have been calling into the local radio station in tears.  One lady basically said, "First my friend died, then my husband, now Knut.  I just can't take it anymore."  Veronika was laughing at the absurdity of it, as if she had the same relationship with her husband as she did with a polar bear, but I can see it.  People have strong relationships to animals.  Why else should we have zoos in the first place?  Animals in zoos and in our houses are in our care and we provide for them.  We feel responsible and mourn them when they are gone.

The Tufts mascot is the Jumbos and when Jumbo the famous circus elephant died he was stuffed and placed in one of the academic halls.  Local college legend has it that one night there was a terrible fire and Jumbo went up in flames, taking with him all the research that a star biology professor had been accumulating for 10 years prior.  The college lost a building and the professor supposedly went crazy.  Bad things happen when you stuff animals.

I agree with the protesters - don't stuff Knut.  He was not killed on a hunting trip to have hanging on your wall in some lodge somewhere.  He was a star.  The boys agree.  Bury him, put up a plaque and leave a place where people can come and visit.

Thoughts?