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In pictures: Knut the polar bear celebrates his first birthday (Image © Miguel Villagran/AP/PA Photos)
Knut the playful polar bear, who achieved global stardom after his mother Tosca – a traumatised circus bear from East Germany – rejected him at birth in December 2006, is celebrating his first birthday in Berlin.
Named after King Canute, the Viking who ruled Britain in the 11th century, he was fished from his mother’s enclosure in an angler’s net four days after he was born. The fuzzy cub was fed 12 times a day by his keeper, who massaged him with baby oil and sang Elvis Presley songs to help him sleep.
An animal rights campaigner criticised the decision to raise Knut by hand in what was widely interpreted as a call for the bear to be put down. The remark prompted a worldwide campaign to ensure the cub’s safe upbringing by Berlin Zoo.
In the past 12 months, Knut has grown from a 28oz ball of photogenic white fluff into a boisterous 17st 3lb adolescent bear. He has had more than 2.5 million visitors, boosted the profits of Berlin Zoo by almost £7m and has appeared in logo form on everything from cuddly toys to credit cards.
And Knut's celebrity status is unlikely to fade any time soon: the burgeoning star has graced the cover of Vanity Fair, boasts his own blog and TV show and is set to star at a Bonn conference for endangered species in May 2008 - proving he’s knut just a pretty face (apologies – Ed). To see his transition from cuddly cub to boisterous behemoth, click on the thumbnails in the gallery below.
by Laura Snook, MSN Environment Editor

In pictures: Knut just a pretty face...

Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)
Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)
Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)
Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)Knut the polar bear (click to enlarge)

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