Ecorazzi

Not so long ago, Knut the polar bear had it made. Magazine covers with Leonardo DiCaprio, movies deals, book releases, and an adoring public all added up to a level of fame few bears have ever enjoyed. Then, things started to unravel. First, came the weight gain. Then, the threat of another new cute polar bear cub named Flocke. To make matters worse, the man who rescued Knut and helped raise him passed away at the age of 44. Now, the Berlin Zoo — suffering from the economic crisis — is looking to sell Knut to a good home.

To be sure, they really don’t want to do this — it’s all truly in the interests of the bear. Knut will be two years old tomorrow — and he’s ready to mate. All this adds up to the need for a larger polar bear compound; something the zoo simply cannot afford. From the article,

“A new compound and the acquisition of a mate would cost the zoo more than £7 million; too much in a belt-tightening era. Knut’s high-earning days, as the star of feature and documentary films, as the subject of a dozen pop songs and as the standard-bearer of the environmental movement, have faded. ‘It’s simply too much money. We cannot afford a third group of polar bears in such economically strained times,’ a zoo manager said. The senior bear keeper, Heiner Kloes, agreed. ‘It’s time for him to go – the sooner he gets a new home the better,’ he said. ‘Anything else would be financially irresponsible.’”

Still — there may be a bright spot to Knut’s impending sale. One of the possible suitors is an animal refuge in Norway. Forget the zoos! The best Hollywood ending to Knut’s topsy-turvy career may just be a place where he can stretch his legs and retire in peace and quiet. No doubt we’ll want him in a good place when he writes his memoirs.

via Times Online