Oh poor Knut. It sucks to grow up and not be as cute as you once were. I know exactly how ya feel, buddy. I was one sweet little toehead with huge green eyes. At the age of four I could wink and grown men would fly to my aid, granting my every wish. But now... well.At first when he started to grow up he could still go by the name Cute Knut and get away with it. Heck, he even inspired N. and me to go to the Berlin Zoo, plunk down 11EUR and gape at the fuzzy orphan.
But Knut, that money-making polar bear, can't get any respect. Today he turns two years old and his Berlin keepers really can't afford to have him anymore. The sweet little guy has had his fifteen minutes of fame complete with his own movie, a song in his honor and even featured on Vanity Fair Deutschland.
But all that money from stuffed toys must have disappeared, because Knut isn't seeing any of it. His enclosure is just barely big enough to keep him, let alone some lady bears to make him happy and maybe even start a family. Mom and Dad are just around the corner, but their place is just too small, and they have some other creepy old guys hanging out there.
To make matters worse for the not so cuddly (anymore) guy, his "daddy", trainer Thomas Dörflein, died earlier this year. Now they haven't been able to play together for some time since Knut's gotten big enough to hurt the zoo keeper that hand raised him. But Knut has "seen him around", and enjoyed that at least. As far as I know his death has been ruled a natural one. But still, it is sad.
What is a distraught teenager to do?
So, Happy 2nd Birthday Knut!
Maybe by next year you will have found a new home with some cool ladies to entertain and a new-found respect.
Oh and hey, you made the Today Show again, congratulations!
7 comments:
I was surprised to see Knut on CNN today. He's still an international star!
I read that they decided to keep him. However, I hope they get him a friend!
You couldn't have possibly been any cuter than you are now.
I think polar bears are beautiful their entire lives. I really wish people would understand that this is what babies do--they grow up. And mammals go through a gawky stage in between babyhood and adulthood. I celebrated a gorgeous baby panda at the Atlanta Zoo in my blog this week, but I think the three-year-olds at the DC and San Diego Zoos and the panda parents are precious in their own right. And I think Knut is precious, too. I hope he gets the love and respect he needs.
I cried a fair amount when Thomas Dorflein died. I know he was much more than "Knut's keeper," but just seeing the pictures of him with the baby bear got to me. It was like all the good things inside him were on full display in those pictures.
Hey there. I found you through link-surfing on various other expat blogs, and yours seems pretty neat! I'm currently an expat in Korea, and I tend to travel quite a bit, and so I was wondering if I could add you to my blogroll? You can add me as well, if you want, but you don't have to. Mine is here: http://www.driftingfocus.com/blogs/
@ Jul - An international star yes, but in true Berlin fashion his caretakers have no money to keep him the way he should be kept.
@ Claire - Kinda like Barbie eh? We'll have to buy Knut a friend.
@ J - Du alter Schleimer. :)
@ Cracker - Yeah, Polar bears really are beautiful their whole lives. Unfortunately the craziness surrounding their youngest months and the money made from increased attendance doesn't last. In Knut's case, the 10,000,000 EUR extra made by the Zoo seemingly won't help him get to stay here.
@ Kelsey - Thanks for dropping in and the lovely compliment. Of course you can do the blogroll thing, thanks for the addition. I haven't had any time to check out your blog, but I promise to drop by soon.
Isn't he up for sale now ? that's what I heard on the news
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