📌 Wildlife in the City? (Original photos and thoughts)

Imagine seeing one right next to you on the road...

Strolling along a busy street near Postdamer Platz in Berlin last fall, I noticed a large looming shape on the periphery of my vision. It was distinct in it's red color and the shape suddenly reminded me of a bear. A bear - how can that be!!!. In the heart of Berlin, a metropolis of humongous size, how can a bear be found??

Even if a poor bear did find it's way into the city would it survive? Well - the Buddy Bears have done just that!

In 2001, Klaus and Eva Herlitz decided to host an event featuring Street art. Inspired by the likes of cow parades in New York and Zurich, they decided to select the bear - a German heraldic animal.

They envisaged the bear, loved by the German population capuring hearts of the population as well as visitors.

The appeal of the street art project was to be in colorful and eye capturing designs. Anne and Roman Strobel helped the Herlitzs to design the first two buddy bears.

The first buddy bear was born a few months after the project was initiated and thereafter, hundreds were created. The bears were created in various poses and each bear had unique artwork. They were an instant hit with the Berliners. Tourists thronged around them.




The buddy bears found homes in many public spots around Berlin. There are literally hundreds of them. We can even go to google maps to find the locations of the buddy bear installations in Berlin. Here is a screenshot of the google map:

The buddy bears are so likable that now they have gained international popularity. They are Berlin's cheery ambassadors to the world. After a first exhibition held in front of the KaDeWe in Berlin in 2002, the bears have been on world tour. They are called the United Buddy Bears and spread the message of unity, peaceful co-existence and tolerance.

I believe that the bears, though considered an eye-sore by some, add cheerful oomph to the city and the message they carry is the one that people definitely need to heed. I love wildlife and hence I love the bears and Berlin too. Don't you?

Steemians, please share your experiences, knowledge and views about this. It will be great to get more perspective and a lively dialogue going. Thanks

Note: All images except for the wildlife (artificial bears in this case!) photos and the title image created by me are from pixabay.com