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World famous polar bear Knut sticks out his tongue as he sits in his enclosure at the zoo in Berlin earlier this month. The bear, born in the zoo on Dec. 5, 2006, caused a global sensation when he survived rejection by his mother. He has attracted more than 2 million visitors and has been made a mascot for environmental care. Knut has also been a source of controversy, as an Associated Press story on the next page shows.

BERLIN — No animal in Europe is cuter than polar bear Knut — or has generated more cash for a zoo. Now there’s a legal fight over all those millions.

A German zoo that claims ownership of Knut said Wednesday it’s going to court to force the Berlin Zoo to disclose how much Knut has generated in proceeds, part of a first step in its bid for a slice of the Knut goldmine.

The Neumuenster Zoo in northern Germany owns Knut’s father, Lars, and said it is the legal owner of his first offspring — Knut — under a deal made with the Berlin Zoo, where the cub was born in 2006.

The Berlin Zoo has said it recognizes Neumuenster’s ownership in principle, but maintains that does not give Neumuenster a right to any proceeds from the polar bear’s huge success.

The irresistibly cute Knut — raised by hand in Berlin after his mother rejected him at birth — became a media phenomenon in early 2007. The Berlin Zoo reported a 27% increase in visitors last year compared with 2006 and had a 2007 profit of nearly $10.7 million.

It has licensing agreements for all kinds of Knut products, including stuffed animals, T-shirts, mugs and DVDs. Neumuenster Zoo director Peter Druewa said in a statement that his zoo had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the Berlin Zoo but has now turned to a court in Berlin for a ruling.

“We do not want to remove Knut from his environment,” Druewa said. “But we have a right to our request for money.”

-- From The Associated Press