BERN, SWITZERLAND – Misha, one of two brown bear cubs given to Switzerland by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and his wife during a 2009 visit, has grown up to be a father too tough for his little ones’ good. Thursday he killed one of his offspring, born earlier this year and who had not yet been given a name.

The cub was killed after being tossed in the air by the father, who had been seen throwing the little one several times in recent days.

The baby bear’s death has sparked renewed discussion in Swiss media about the bears and efforts to house them as naturally as possible but in a space that is far smaller than their natural habitat.

Misha and his offspring are housed in the Dählhölzli park in Bern, while several other bears live in the city’s bear park. The breeds cannot be kept together.