I join Andy Towle in having a bit of a thing for polar bears. Especially now that they're all drowning because we've gone and melted the ice caps.
Well there's kind of a sad new story out of Berlin about a much-loved polar bear named Knut (I'm only hoping it's not pronounced "Newt"). Seems Knut has been all the rage in Berlin for the past few years, but now he's full grown and has outgrown his pen at the zoo. So they need to move him to another zoo. And Berliners are besides themselves. Of course, some, like the Swedes, are besides themselves as well, at the prospect of Knut perhaps moving their way. This is my favorite part of the article:
Torbjorn Wallin, chief executive of Orsa Gronklitt AB, which runs the Orsa bear park 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Stockholm, said his company has been in talks with Berlin Zoo about Knut's future for 18 months.
Wallin declined to discuss financial details, but said a suitable mate, rather than money, had been the focus of discussions.
Wallin said other zoos and parks had shown interest too.
"Of course there are others — it's the world's most famous animal," he said. "It's as if Madonna would move to Stockholm."
