Rabbit born without ears killed by TV crew member just as Saxony zoo prepared it for global fame

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

An earless baby rabbit that became a rising star on Germany's celebrity animal scene had its 15 minutes of fame brought to an abrupt end when it was accidentally stepped on and killed by a television cameraman.

The fate of 17-day-old Til, a male bunny with a genetic defect, was plastered across German newspapers on Thursday, the same day a small zoo in Saxony was to have presented it to the world at a press conference.

The cameraman told Bild newspaper he hadn't seen Til, who had buried himself in hay, when he took the fateful step back on Wednesday.

Zoo director Uwe Dempewolf told Spiegel magazine Til didn't suffer: "It was a direct hit."

Germany has been home to several global animal celebrities in recent years, including polar bear Knut and Paul the prognosticating octopus.