New Delhi: Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to pour into Berlin Zoo to see the cute Polar bear cub ‘Knut’ who has become a worldwide celebrity since being raised by bottle after his mother abandoned him.
Over 200,000 people streamed to the zoo last month to see tiny Knut. Media hype and visits by politicians, including the European Union's Italian justice commissioner, Franco Frattini surprised the zoo authorities.
The figure was a record for March, but is likely to be better in April because of the holiday period. "We expect a record attendance over Easter," Gerald Uhlich, the zoo's business director told DPA.
Knut seems blissfully unaware of all the attention during his two daily appearances where the public can see him playing in his bear pit, drinking milk and wrestling with his keeper, Thomas Doerflein.
The cub hit the headlines after animal-rights campaigners claimed he should be put down because he was becoming too dependent on humans since being left to die by his mother on December 5 last year.
Keepers rescued Knut and his twin and decided to raise them by feeding them milk from a bottle. But only Knut pulled through after spending 44 days in an incubator.
The cub now weighs 12 kilos and the zoo is cashing in on his celebrity status by licensing his name and image.
With agencies inputs
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