Baraza

Category: Amazing facts | Date: Dec 04 2008 | By: baraza

I can’t believe it, only two years old, and the cute polar bear that captured everyones heart is suddenly being made a persona non grata. According to Berlin Zoo Knut is no longer cute and therefore no longer welcome. That’s the sad reality of Zoos in some places!

The Britney Spears of zoos? Is she really THAT huggable?

I’m especially upset because  I met Knut in Berlin just after the book Knut by Craig Hatkoff and his daugters Juliana and Isabella was published. They were my co authors on Owen and Mzee the extraordinary story  about the baby hippo tsunami orphan who adopted a giant tortoise as his ‘mom’ as well as the story of an orphaned baby gorilla Looking for Miza.

Apparently Knut’s second birthday is not to be celebrated tomorrow, the 5th of December by the zoo, causing thousands of fans to protest. Knut’s fame was unprecedented and although every zoo probably wishes for a Knut, an Owen and Mzee, or a dog that adopts white tiger cubs, the Berlin Zoo claims to be tired of the massive public adoration of Knut…..and unbelievable to most, they plan to send him to another zoo. So much for zoos caring about their animals and being responsible towards these extraordinary animals etc.

Poor Knut, it was bad enough to be born in a Zoo, then his mother abandoned him, and then he lost his keeper Thomas Dorflien who died in September. Now he’s to be shipped of to another Zoo - perhaps it’s time for another book Knut II: the cruel abandonment!

For more photos check out this website here and this video on You tube

Tags: Berlin Zoo, Knut, orphaned, polar bear

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