Several weeks ago, the world was captivated by a celebrity polar bear named Knut. But as they say, bright lights attract all sorts of bugs. In this case, that means that Knut's stardom has been met with a death threat.
Germany's top newspaper, Bild, received a hand-written fax from a Knut hater who noted, "Knut is dead! Thursday midday." Luckily, that deadline has past and the young cub is still safe.
It's a pretty odd world when celebrity animals require police protection. Reuters notes, "As Knut appeared for one of his public appearance on Thursday, about twelve minders in orange jackets and carrying walkie-talkies patrolled the area around his enclosure to keep a close eye on the cub and the crowd of fans. Just an hour before the death threat expired, an unperturbed Knut rolled around on the ground with his bearded keeper Thomas Doerflein and, as usual, chewed his fingers."
Although the origins of the threat have not been noted, some animal rights activists had been calling for Knut to be, "Put down rather than raised by humans".
Death Threats for Animals
Celebrity Polar Bear 'Knut' Threatened
Trend Themes
1. Celebrity Animals - Opportunity to create platforms and brands around famous animals to engage and entertain audiences.
2. Animal Protection - Increasing demand for security measures and protocols to ensure the safety of beloved animals.
3. Animal Activism - Growing movement advocating for the rights and humane treatment of animals in the public eye.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - Disruptive innovation: Developing new methods for leveraging celebrity animals in movies, TV shows, and online content.
2. Security - Disruptive innovation: Creating specialized protection services for high-profile animals, including surveillance, event security, and risk assessment.
3. Nonprofit Organizations - Disruptive innovation: Utilizing digital platforms and social media to amplify animal rights messages and mobilize supporters.