Bear cub craze thrills Berlin Zoo

Knut has become a German celebrity
Berlin Zoo is bracing for a record attendance over Easter weekend as its star attraction - the polar bear cub Knut - pulls in the crowds.

The media frenzy over Knut boosted visitor numbers to 200,000 in March - double the zoo's normal figure.

The German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung says Knut's popularity has pushed the zoo's shares up 67% since mid-January.

Knut, born last December, ignited a heated debate about hand-rearing after his mother rejected him.

Knut was brought up and bottle-fed by his keeper, Thomas Doerflein.

An animal rights activist said Knut should be killed rather than treated like a domestic pet - a suggestion that triggered a nationwide surge of affection for the cub.

Germans have been eagerly following his progress on television and the internet.

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