Monday, April 30, 2007

The new guy in my life...

Everyone likes an adorably cute new guy in their lives, right? Well, I've got one. He's blond and young and playful and European. He had a rough beginning, but with a lot of love and care, he's finding his way in the world and he's become quite the celebrity.

His name is Knut. Pronounced Kuh-noot. He lives in Berlin.

And he's the new guy in my life.



He was born in December and his mother shunned him and his brother, not letting them nurse or anything. Soon, his brother died and the Berlin Zoo stepped in to save littel Knut. One of the zookeepers hand fed him with a bottle for a couple of months to save him.

In March, he made his public debute to the Berlin press...and to the world...



Isn't he a darling? While he's a polar bear in captivity, he does symbolize all the struggles these noble animals are going through with global warming and sometimes the mother not taking to her cubs.



Some critics have said it would have been better to Knut to have died than to have been raised by humans. So-called animal rights people! But how can you look at this face, see the spirit and beauty in him and say he'd be better off dead?

Here's what he had to say to his critics!



The zoo is his home and they're doing everything they can to raise him to the best of their abilities to be a "real" polar bear. At least, as much as one can be in a zoo. He plays with his blanket and soccer ball, has showings to the press and public, and just loves rolling around in the sand.



Annie Leibowitz came to Berlin to photograph Knut. He made the cover of
Vanity Fair's Green Issue to show the love the world has poured out for Knut. How can you not love this little guy?



A German confectioner has made a Knut candy. The zoo has stuffed animal versions of him. And there's rumors he'll soon be on a stamp.



I think, most of all, what this adorable little guy represents is how we're so delicate and in need of companionship and love.



Knut's getting bigger each and every day...



...but he'll always have a place in my heart. I can't wait to go to Germany some day and see him in person.



Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - Spring 2008!
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What I'm reading: a fantabulous new proposal by Simon Pulse author, Wendy Toliver. Shhh...I can't talk about it!

12 comments:

stephhale said...

Okay, that is by far the cutest boy we have ever had on here. Marley, you don't know how bad I needed something like this after that other bs. We definitely need more Knut's in the world! Awesome post!
xo,
Steph

Anonymous said...

OH! I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!

TinaFerraro said...

Oh, Marley, you have just made my night! What a cutie!

TJ Brown said...

Now that is HOT!
Teri

Dona Sarkar-Mishra said...

OMG, I am obsessed with the Knut video on YouTube...he is just SO cute!

Me said...

Awwww! What a wonderful post, Marley. He is just the cutest thing ever. Reminds me of when I went to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage. They had two orphaned polar bear and grizzly bear cubs who were best buds growing up. (They're separate now, but they were sooo cute together growing up.) Thanks for sharing such a smile-worthy post. =)
TLC

Lisa Asanuma said...

He really is the sweetest thing ever. I'm so relieved the "animal rights" people didn't get their way.

GeminiWisdom said...

he's too cute for words. Our cat would kill us, of course, if we ever brought something like him home. Damned animal rights people! Animals are people, too!

Anonymous said...

What a cutie patootie! Too bad the pet rent at my apartment complex is so high. I'd love to have one of these.

alexgirl said...

I can't even get over how FREAKING adorable that thing is. Ugh. I'm going to explode with delight! Thanks for the cute pics, Marley.

Marley Gibson said...

Thanks everyone! Wish I could take photo credit on all of these. He's certainly an adorable subject. And yes, if you go to YouTube and search "Knut," you can see a lot of videos of him when he was a couple of weeks old.

From the response here, I think Knut will definitely be making another appearance on Books, (Polar) Boys and Buzz...

LOL!!

Marley = )

Simone Elkeles said...

He is the Cutest thing ever! I entered the contest at the Brookfield Zoo to name one of the baby polar bears and I spent SO much time chooing the name (probably more than my own kids) --okay, I totally forgot what the name was but I was extremely depressed it wasn't picked!

~Simone