Regardless of whether you're a man, woman or beast, it seems fame at an early age is not good for your mental health. The Daily Mail is reporting that Berlin Zoo's most famous resident, Knut, the once über cuddly polar bear cub, has grown up to become a "publicity-addicted psycho."
Knut and his twin brother were born in December 2006. Their mother, 20-year old Tosca, caught a serious case of post-partum depression, and rejected the cubs, who were subsequently rescued by zoo workers. Sadly Knut's brother died after just 4 days, but Knut survived, spending 44 days in an incubator before being hand reared by zookeeper Thomas Dörflein.
In March 2007 the German tabloid Bild-Zeitung carried a quote from Frank Albrecht, a radical animal rights activist, who claimed it would be better for Knut to die than be raised by humans "as a domestic pet." A massive public outcry ensued, and Knut shot to fame worldwide. 400 journalists showed up for his public debut, and the bear became the zoo's superstar poster child. Visitors increased by 30% after Knut graced the covers of newspapers and glossy magazines, such as the German edition of Vanity Fair, and merchandising, book and film deals followed. But fame took its toll on the impressionable cub.
"He is addicted to the whole show, the human adulation. It is not healthy," said Markus Roebke, who is a key member of Knut's human entourage. Roebke would like to see Knut enter rehab far away from the glare of the public spotlight. "Knut must go, and the sooner the better."
"We are not allowed to have contact with him any more and have received letters that if we breach this order our jobs are on the line. He is too unpredictable to play with now,' Roebke continued. "He actually cries out or whimpers if he sees that there is not a spectator outside his enclosure ready to ooh and aah at him...When the zoo had to shut because of black ice everywhere he howled until staff members stood before him and calmed him down."
It is estimated that Knut has earned his zoo over $12 million since his birth. That may seem like a lot, but Knut has a lot of catching up to do if he is to rival the earning power of fellow child star Britney Spears, whose economy is estimated by Porfolio.com to be worth $110 million to $120 million annually. Like Britney, Knut's dad is trying to get in on the action, with Neumünster Zoo (the conservators of Knut's father) threatening to file a lawsuit demanding a share of the spoils. Sadly, Knut and Britney have far too much in common. Perhaps they should hit group therapy together before they both turn into Gary Coleman (it'd break our heart to see Knut doing infomercials).
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