The internationally famous pair of cute-to-cuddle polar bear Knut and his keeper Thomas Dorflein will no longer perform for the public. The announcement was made by the Berlin Zoo on Monday less than four months after the snowy white polar bear made it first public appearance in March.

"Mr. Doerflein's safety counts first of all, of course," zoo spokeswoman Regine Damm told the AP adding that it was high time to associate the 7-month-old Knut with other bears than exposing him to people.

Doerflein has been taking care of Knut since the bear was rejected by his mother at birth in December. The close bond between the two was evident from the way Knut followed his keeper around the enclosure during his public appearance. However, the separation was anticipated.

In a recent interview with the newspaper Tagesspiegel, Doerflein acknowledged that the daily show with Knut was more challenging than it was several months ago. "He now sometimes has temper tantrums when he's hungry or when he wants something and doesn't get it, then he gives me a really good bite," Doerflein said of the 110 lbs bear. "He is, after all, a predator."

Doerflein said the closure of public shows doesn't mean that he would no longer play with Knut. "It just means there are no fixed times anymore," he was quoted as saying by the daily B.Z. "I am always there for him. Knut is still a child; he needs me."