From the now-ubiquitous Daily Coyote

Reading about how Charlie (coyote) is trying to befriend Eli (cat; incumbent receiver of affection) is so adorable, and the photos documenting Charlie’s growth, as well as the surrounding Wyoming wilderness is beyond words. But there’s a sense of sadness throughout, particularly when the proprietor of the blog discusses the very real possibility of Charlie returning to the wild.

Kind of like Thomas Dörflein, the Berlin zookeeper who was Knut’s surrogate polar-mama:

“Many parents have trouble cutting the apron strings when it’s time for their offspring to make their own way in the world. It seems that polar bear Knut’s surrogate “mother” Thomas Dörflein is no exception: He just couldn’t do without a playful wrestle with the young bear he raised on a bottle.

But Dörflein’s ongoing affection for Knut has landed him in hot water. Berlin Zoo director Bernhard Blaszkiewitz has banned the keeper from contact with Knut after seeing photos of Dörflein illicitly tumbling with the bear in the Berlin tabloid newspaper BZ.

Blaszkiewitz was not amused when he saw the photos. “What they show is exactly what I have strictly forbidden Dörflein from doing,” he told the BZ. “The keeper is simply not allowed to roll around with Knut and especially not in public,” he said, adding that the game is too dangerous now that Knut is approaching his first birthday and tipping the scales at 107 kilos (236 pounds).”

Sniffle.

Source/image: Spiegel Online