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Knut's Dad Wants a Piece of the Action

Rival zoo says it's entitled to share star polar bear's earnings

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 15, 2008 2:41 PM CST
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(Newser) – Knut, the polar bear superstar of the Berlin Zoo, has all the trappings of celebrity—fame, money, a Hollywood deal, and now, family members looking to cash in. The zoo that owns his dad, Lars, says it deserves some of the millions Knut has raked in, Der Spiegel reports. "We are currently looking into what claims we could have," said a spokesman for Neumunster Zoo.

In fact, Neumunster says the original deal called for it to take Lars' firstborn—that would be Knut—though Berlin Zoo officials dispute that. Neumunster says it has no interest in relocating Knut but will settle for money. Knut has plenty. He's brought in nearly $15 million to the Berlin Zoo since he skyrocketed to fame in 2006.

A combo of two photos showing, left, the Polar bear Knut, at his first public appearance on March 23, 2007, and right, his first birthday in the Berlin Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. Knut, Berlin's famous polar bear born in the zoo on Dec. 5, 2006, was rejected by his...
A combo of two photos showing, left, the Polar bear Knut, at his first public appearance on March 23, 2007, and right, his first birthday in the Berlin Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. Knut, Berlin's famous...   (Associated Press)
Knut, the polar bear cub, makes his first public appearance at the Berlin Zoo in this Friday, March 23, 2007 file photo. The zoo that owns Knut's father is fighting for a share of the celebrity bear's millions. (AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski, File)
Knut, the polar bear cub, makes his first public appearance at the Berlin Zoo in this Friday, March 23, 2007 file photo. The zoo that owns Knut's father is fighting for a share of the celebrity bear's...   (Associated Press)
Polar bear Knut nibbles on a wooden candle on his birthday cake to celebrate his first birthday in the Zoo Berlin on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. The zoo that owns Knut's father is fighting for a share of the celebrity bear's millions. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
Polar bear Knut nibbles on a wooden candle on his birthday cake to celebrate his first birthday in the Zoo Berlin on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. The zoo that owns Knut's father is fighting for a share of...   (Associated Press)
U.S. heiress Paris Hilton kisses toy polar bear Knut, named after the polar bear in Berlin Zoo, during a promotional event for a Prosecco company at a department store in Berlin on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
U.S. heiress Paris Hilton kisses toy polar bear Knut, named after the polar bear in Berlin Zoo, during a promotional event for a Prosecco company at a department store in Berlin on Wednesday, Dec. 12,...   (Associated Press)
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Germany • Knut • Berlin Zoo • polar bear • Neümunster Zoo • Lars • exploitation

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