Published: Thu 08 Nov 2012 at 09:35
Updated: Thu 08 Nov 2012 at 09:36
The birth of Knut the polar bear in Berlin zoo in 2006 captivated animal lovers the world over. Images of Knut were transmitted around the globe and there were even songs written about him.
Tourism to the city rose dramatically as everyone wanted to see the little bear up close and when he died suddenly last year the world was saddened. However, a statue of the brave little bear has recently been unveiled in the zoo to mark his short but amazing life there.
A crowd of around 300 people gathered to witness the unveiling and pay tribute to Knut and his keeper Thomas Dorflein, that bottle fed him from birth, swam with him in the pool and played with him for the adoring crowds, as he too sadly passed away in 2011. This unlikely partnership proving to be a big hit with the crowds that came into the city to see them.
Now the statue entitled ‘Knut – the Dreamer’ which captures the bear in his early days lounging upon a rock is attracting more visitors coming to pay their respects.
The impact that one little white bear had upon the city’s tourism is remarkable, so the next time you are taking a Berlin city break, make a point of visiting the zoo and seeing the statue for yourself. Cheap flights to Berlin are available through Jet2.com which enables you to jet off to the city at any time of the year for a well-deserved break.
