Berlin
Knut, an adorable polar bear cub who has become a national star, has grown too big to play. Knut and the Berlin zookeeper who raised him, Thomas Dörflein, have been delighting audiences since March with their twice-daily performances, usually wrestling or swimming together. In the past few weeks, though, Dörflein had been getting badly bruised in the encounters, so the zoo decided to call off the shows. Dörflein said he was relieved to stop performing with the bear. He said he’d become such a celebrity across Germany that he was getting marriage proposals from total strangers. “But this doesn’t mean that I will never play with Knut again,” he said. “I am always there for him.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellationCartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop sceneIn the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
