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| Berlin's zoo may lose bear Knut | Berlin's zoo may lose bear Knut |
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| The warm feeling surrounding Germany's celebrity polar bear Knut is turning icy ahead of his second birthday on Friday - because Berlin may lose him. | The warm feeling surrounding Germany's celebrity polar bear Knut is turning icy ahead of his second birthday on Friday - because Berlin may lose him. |
| Knut's father came from Neumuenster Zoo, which is still entitled to Knut under a contract with Berlin Zoo. | Knut's father came from Neumuenster Zoo, which is still entitled to Knut under a contract with Berlin Zoo. |
| Fans of Knut, who has proven a big money-spinner for Berlin Zoo, are urging the zoo director to keep him in the capital, German media report. | Fans of Knut, who has proven a big money-spinner for Berlin Zoo, are urging the zoo director to keep him in the capital, German media report. |
| But Knut is expected to move from Berlin in the first half of next year. | But Knut is expected to move from Berlin in the first half of next year. |
| After his birth in 2006, Knut suddenly became an international celebrity, drawing huge crowds to the Berlin Zoo and the cub even appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair. | After his birth in 2006, Knut suddenly became an international celebrity, drawing huge crowds to the Berlin Zoo and the cub even appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair. |
| A spokeswoman for Gelsenkirchen Zoo said Knut would be a fine partner for her zoo's female polar bear Lara. Other zoos have also expressed interest in Knut. | A spokeswoman for Gelsenkirchen Zoo said Knut would be a fine partner for her zoo's female polar bear Lara. Other zoos have also expressed interest in Knut. |
| But Berlin Zoo director Bernhard Blaszkiewitz, quoted by the Deutsche Welle news website, said "We entered into a contract which stated that the first surviving cub is owned by Neumuenster Zoo - and that is Knut." | But Berlin Zoo director Bernhard Blaszkiewitz, quoted by the Deutsche Welle news website, said "We entered into a contract which stated that the first surviving cub is owned by Neumuenster Zoo - and that is Knut." |
| The zoo authorities in Neumuenster, in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein, say they are still unsure where Knut will go. | The zoo authorities in Neumuenster, in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein, say they are still unsure where Knut will go. |
| In 2007 alone Knut generated more than 5m euros (£4.2m; $6.3m) in extra income for Berlin Zoo, from the sale of tickets, cuddly Knut toys, T-shirts and other Knut-branded items, the German newspaper Tagesspiegel reports. | |
| "Berlin will not only be losing its best ambassador, but also a true landmark, much to the regret of its international guests," said a Berlin Tourism Marketing official, Christian Taenzler. | "Berlin will not only be losing its best ambassador, but also a true landmark, much to the regret of its international guests," said a Berlin Tourism Marketing official, Christian Taenzler. |
| Another Berlin tourism official, Hanns Peter Nerger, was quoted as saying "Berlin must not give Knut away - it would be like losing a family friend." | Another Berlin tourism official, Hanns Peter Nerger, was quoted as saying "Berlin must not give Knut away - it would be like losing a family friend." |