Knut

Knut, the living teddy bear, so cute that his image has created a phenomenon in his hometown of Berlin, Germany. He is the first surviving baby bear in 30 years at Zoologischer Garten Berlin. His mother was a former circus performer and he was born with a twin brother, who died shortly after birth. With the recent trend in the media here in the US, I predict a landfall of notoriety for this young bear, akin to that of the media blitz that is Paris Hilton. He's already modeling and waving in the photos at his Zoo's website.

Why is Knut so damn cute? I think it's because he's the living embodiment of everything a teddy bear is, only warm, alive and playful! Infinetly better than a teddy bear. Except that there is much controversy surrounding this adorable plushie-like animal. Some have sounded off at the nuture over nature response of the Berlin Zoo. Knut was kept in an incubator for 44 days, he was born the size of a guinea pig and with his twin brother already dead, the zookeepers took Knut from his mother and raised him in captivity. Hand raising an animal in captivity is nothing new, nor is keeping premature animals in incubators to ensure their survival; yet it has been said that it would have been better to allow the animal to die, as it would have in the wild. Zookeepers would reply that there is much need to preserve species on this planet, in order to preserve ourselves. Keeping Knut alive, when so many polar bears are starving and even resulting to cannibalism in the Arctic source, is neccessary in the survival of the species. The Zoos are attempting to prop up the landslide, with the effects of global warming, over population, urban development and the spread of suburban environments the habitat of these animals is being directly effected source and it is causing a mass extinction unlike anything that has been seen since the dinosaurs. And that is the reality of our times.
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Today, Knut is a celebrity in Germany, he's even been photographed by Annie Leibowitz for Vanity Fair.The German Environmental Minister officially adopted him and is using him as a mascot for the Berlin Zoo's Endangered Species and his image has been trademarked. You can listen to a pop song about Knut, you can buy Knut candies and Knut plushies, and soon you will be able to read a book about Knut from Scholastic Publishing. Knut's celebrity has spread so much in fact, that he has received death threats and has his own security patrol. He's just a few panty shots and vodka tonics shy from being the next It girl in Hollywood. With a heavy, heavy purse, Knut is the mascot to a failing world.