Zoo halts keeper’s show with growing polar bear

BERLIN Zoo’s fast-growing polar bear cub Knut won’t be appearing anymore with the keeper who raised him.

The zoo yesterday said it had ended seven-month-old Knut’s twice-daily public appearances with keeper Thomas Doerflein. The playful pair have delighted audiences since Knut — then a cute 9-kilo cub — made his first public appearance in late March.

Now nearing 50 kilos, he will have his enclosure all to himself.

“Mr Doerflein’s safety counts first of all,” said zoo spokeswoman Regine Damm.

The zoo also has Knut’s independence in mind, she added, as it prepares the bear to “associate with other bears and not with other people”.

Knut has been raised by zoo staff after his mother rejected him.