A calico raised on the streets of Kinokawa, Tama pawed her way to fame and the job of station master at the small train station of Kishi in Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HIDE CAPTION

 

Best city mascots

 

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

>

>>

 

(CNN) -- They have tours designed around them, statues erected in their honor and fans so rabid many a sports team would envy them.

The world's most adorable city mascots have some heady responsibilities and impressive lines on their CVs, from running a train station to gracing a "Vanity Fair" cover with Hollywood elite.

But cuteness alone didn't get them their celebrity.

Their stories did.

MORE: The world's 20 cutest creatures

1. Shrek the Unshearable Sheep (Tarras, New Zealand)

Shrek, a merino sheep from the small New Zealand farming settlement of Tarras, gained a following in 2004 after word got out he'd avoided grooming for six years by hiding in a cave.

Named Shrek for the ogre he resembled in his matted state, he quickly charmed the nation.

After his capture, a national TV station broadcast the 20-minute shearing of the iconic kiwi live.

During the shave, Shrek shed 27 kilograms (about 60 pounds) of fleece, enough to make 20 large wool men's suits.

The fleece was auctioned in 2004 for children's medical charities.

Shrek became so famous he got to meet New Zealand's prime minister.

In 2007, he spent his 10th birthday on an iceberg off the coast of New Zealand, where the celebrisheep underwent his second big trim.

At age 16 he began suffering pain from age-related illnesses and was put down.

His legacy in Tarras and New Zealand lives on in legend.

Special power: Living in darkness.

Potential motto: "It's just in that awkward, in-between phase."

Don't mention Flipper.

2. Fungie the Dolphin (Dingle, Ireland)

He may not be a household name globally, but Fungie's a big deal in the tiny town of Dingle on the west coast of Ireland.

The 13-foot resident bottlenose made Dingle harbor his home in 1983 and is known for playing around boats and swimmers.

Recently, a second dolphin was spotted in the harbor.

Local lore has it that it's Fungie's former lover, returning to the dolphin of her dreams after many years.

Dingle runs daily Fungie-spotting boat tours ($23 adults; $12 children) and even offers Fungie wedding packages.

According to his official website, celebrities such as fellow Irishman Pierce Brosnan have come to see Fungie.

"Although there is no meaning in the Irish language for the word 'Fungie,' it does suggest he is a Fun-Guy," the site says.

Special power: Sticking around.

Potential motto: "Fungie by name, fun guy by nature!"

MORE: 10 places where the wild things are

3. Patrick the Wombat (Ballarat, Victoria, Australia)

At 28 years old and almost 84 pounds, Patrick the wombat of Australia's Ballarat Wildlife Park is the oldest and largest Common Wombat known in captivity, having outlived the average wombat in the wild by 13 years (so far).

The longtime resident of Victoria acts as the "wombassador" to the wildlife park, where he gets wheel-barrowed about the park by staff.

Rapt visitors have included Nicolas Cage, Kirstie Alley and Kim Cattrall.

A local celebrity, he became a Reddit phenomenon when his photo blew up on the site in 2013.

On October 22, the town will honor him for Australia's 10th annual Wombat Day -- also known as "Hug a Wombie Day" -- an unofficial holiday designed to celebrate all of Australia's wombats.

Special power: Staying alive.

Potential motto: "I'm old, fat and hairy and wouldn't change a thing."

4. Tama the Station Master (Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan)

In Japan, cats have their own islands, their own cafes and their own careers.

Tama, a 15-year-old female calico from the streets of Kinokawa, pawed her way to fame and fortune at the small rail station of Kishi in Japan.

The unclaimed puss became a familiar face near the tracks, and after a while, was adopted by the station manager.

Three years later, Tama took her owner's job.

Tama's mascot duties as official station master and deputy president include greeting passengers, wearing a station master hat and eating.

Tens of thousands of tourists trek to the tiny train town each year to see the cat and the Tama-themed station, featuring a Tama train, Tama souvenir shop, Tama cafe and even a building resembling a cat's face.

Special power: Ambition.

Potential motto: "It's a dog-eat-dog world. Let a cat handle it."

MORE: The cat that saved a Japanese train station

These San Francisco parrots have their own fan club.

5. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (San Francisco)

A pandemonium of approximately 200 conure parrots reside in a park in the San Francisco neighborhood of Telegraph Hill, far from their native home in South America.

Having become a city staple and stars of the 2003 documentary "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," they have their own fan club and entries devoted to them in San Francisco travel guides.

Although their origin is uncertain, it's thought the first of these parrots congregated on the hill after escaping from captivity -- millions were brought into the United States before restrictions were placed on wild parrot imports in 1993.

Special power: Finding cheap accommodation in San Francisco.

Potential motto: "Freedom fliers unite!"

6. Cute Knut (Berlin)

Abandonment, love, celebrity, incest ... the story of "Cute Knut," the polar bear born in the Berlin Zoo in 2006 packs more drama than any Lifetime special.

Rejected at birth by his mother, a former circus performer named Tosca from East Germany, Knut the eisbar ("polar bear" in German) was left alone after his twin brother died at just four days old.

When his story and picture hit national media, it melted German hearts and sparked an international sensation.

His first public appearance brought hordes of Berliners and hundreds of journalists to the Berlin Zoo.

He subsequently graced postcards and stamps, inspired a Nutella knockoff called "Knutella" and had stuffed animals created in his likeness.

He was even photographed by Annie Leibovitz and superimposed onto a "Vanity Fair" cover featuring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Berlin Zoo capitalized on the city's Knutmania by officially registering Knut as a trademark.

But when the adorable little bear grew up, his adoring public turned.

Knut became plagued by rumors of incest when his polar bear girlfriend turned out to be a distant relative, and was bullied by fellow bears including his own mother.

Like many childhood celebrities, he was unable to deal with the fame.

Gawker even likened his meltdown to that of Britney Spears.

On March 19, 2011, when he was but four years old, Knut collapsed into his pool and died.

An outpouring of grief ensued with flowers, memorials and a statement from the mayor.

A sculpture of the bear using Knut's fur was exhibited in Berlin's Museum of Natural History.

Special power: Tear jerking.

Potential motto: "Ich bin ein bearliner."

MORE: Search for the world's ugliest animal

In Egypt I'm worshiped as a god. Here, I'm even bigger.

7. Hamish McHamish the Cool Cat (St. Andrews, Scotland)

The 17,000-person Scottish town of St. Andrews is hovering dangerously close to idolatry in regards to its collective pet, ginger furball, Hamish McHamish.

Starting when he was a young, rebellious kitten 14 years ago, McHamish would leave home to voyage regularly into local eateries, bookstores and homes.

The town fell for him hard.

In April, St. Andrews erected a resident-funded $8,000 cast bronze statue of the cat to honor their beloved friend.

A biography -- "Hamish McHamish, Cool Cat About Town" -- was published this year.

The local celeb regularly updates his busy goings on about town onTwitter.

"Spending my evening watching Flashdance on DVD. #whatafeeling" and "I'm in Drouthies if anyone fancies [buying me] a drink. #gasping," are some recent tweets.

Special power: Posturing with style.

Motto: "Once I had an owner. Now I have a staff."

8. Mike the Headless Chicken (Fruita, Colorado)

A famed headless fowl named Mike has become an icon in the farm town of Fruita, Colorado.

Back in 1945, the Wyandotte rooster continued to live for 18 months after a farmer's wife chopped off its head.

She was hoping for a chicken dinner, but instead got the shock of her life as the headless chicken strutted off.

According to an article in "LIFE" magazine from 1945, the ax managed to "clip off most of the skull but leave intact one ear, the jugular vein and the base of the brain, which controls motor function."

Mike became a popular sideshow attraction, and owners even supposedly insured the chicken for $10,000.

The headless chicken finally passed away in 1946 in an Arizona motel from health complications.

Now Fruita remembers its town chicken every May with a Mike the Headless Chicken Festival and a Mike the Headless Chicken 5K.

Special power: Surviving a beheading.

Potential motto: "Who needs a brain?"

世界各地的8最偉大的城市吉祥物
由雷切爾巴特，為CNN
2014年7月18日 - 更新0207 GMT（1007 HKT）
提出對紀之川市的街頭印花布，多摩pawed她的方式名利，站主在岸信介在日本的小火車站的工作。 提出對紀之川市的街頭印花布，多摩pawed她的方式名利，站主在岸信介在日本的小火車站的工作。
隱藏字幕
最好的城市吉祥物
<<
<
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
>
>>
故事突出
在世界各地，這些城市的吉祥物是為慶祝他們不同尋常的故事
生薑貓鎮麥高McHamish在蘇格蘭有一尊雕像和狗仔隊跟著他到處
一位日本火車站有一隻貓為一個主站
柏林動物園的克努特北極熊靈感“Knutmania”世界各地
（CNN） -他們有他們周圍設計之旅，雕像豎立在他們的榮譽和球迷如此狂熱的許多運動隊都會羨慕他們。
世界上最可愛的城市吉祥物有一些令人興奮的責任和令人印象深刻的線條在他們的簡歷，從運行一個火車站殺入了“名利場”的封面與好萊塢的精英。
但僅靠可愛沒有得到他們自己的名人。
他們的故事一樣。
更多：世界上最可愛的20生靈
1 ，史萊克Unshearable羊（塔拉斯，新西蘭）
史萊克，從塔拉斯的小新西蘭養殖和解美利奴羊，獲得了繼2004年後，消息傳出他已經避免了梳理六年被藏在一個山洞裡。
名為史萊克因為他在他的糾結狀態相似的食人魔，他很快著迷的國家。
他的捕獲後，國家電視台播出的偶像獼猴桃直播的20分鐘剪切。
在刮鬍子，史萊克棚27公斤羊毛（約60英鎊），足以使20家大型羊毛男士西服。
羊毛被拍賣，2004年兒童醫療慈善機構。
史萊克成了這麼有名，他得到了滿足新西蘭總理。
2007年，他度過了他10歲生日的冰山關閉新西蘭，那裡的celebrisheep接受他的第二個大裝飾的海岸。
在16歲時，他開始患上與年齡有關的疾病的痛苦和被放了下來。
他在塔拉斯和新西蘭的遺產傳說中住在。
特殊電源：生活在黑暗中。
潛在的座右銘： “這只是在那個尷尬，在中間階段。”
唐\'噸提翻轉。
不提翻轉。
2 ，Fungie海豚（愛爾蘭Dingle）
他可能不是一個家喻戶曉的名字在全球範圍，但Fungie是一個大問題在Dingle對愛爾蘭西海岸的小鎮。
13英尺居民瓶製成丁格爾懷有他的家在1983年，著名的玩弄船和游泳。
近日，第二海豚被發現在港口。
當地傳說它是它的Fungie的前情人，多年後回到她的夢想的海豚。
丁格爾每天運行Fungie去斑乘船遊覽（美元23成人;12美元孩子），甚至提供Fungie婚禮套餐。
據他的官方網站上，名人如愛爾蘭同胞皮爾斯·布魯斯南都來看看Fungie。
“雖然沒有意義愛爾蘭語的單詞'Fungie，”它確實表明他是一個有趣的傢伙，“該網站說。
特殊電源：堅持圍繞。
潛在的座右銘： “Fungie的名字，有趣的傢伙天性！”
更多：10個名額，其中野生的東西
3 ，帕特里克的袋熊（Ballarat，維多利亞，澳大利亞）
在28歲，幾乎84磅，帕特里克袋熊澳大利亞巴拉瑞特野生動物園是在圈養已知最古老和最大的公共袋熊，已經分13年活得比在野外的平均袋熊（到目前為止）。
維多利亞的長期居民充當“wombassador”到野生動物園，在那裡他被輪barrowed關於公園的工作人員。
全神貫注的觀眾已包括尼古拉斯·凱奇，Kirstie巷和金凱特羅爾。
當地的名人，他 ​​成了一個書籤交易的現象時，他的照片在2013年炸毀了在網站上。
10月22日，該鎮將尊重他對澳大利亞的第10屆年度袋熊日 - 也被稱為“擁抱一個Wombie日” - 一個非官方節日專為慶祝所有的澳大利亞的袋熊。
特殊電源：存活下去。
潛在的座右銘： “我老了，脂肪和多毛，不會改變任何事情。”
4 ，多摩站長（紀之川市，和歌山，日本）
在日本，貓有自己的島嶼，自己的咖啡館和自己的事業。
多摩市，一個15歲的女性印花布從紀之川市的大街小巷，pawed她的方式名利在岸信介在日本的小火車站。
無人認領的貓變成了一張熟悉的面孔附近的軌道，並在一段時間後，通過了站經理。
三年後，多摩把她老闆的工作。
多摩的吉祥物職責官方站主，副會長包括問候乘客，戴著站長帽和飲食。
遊客數以萬計，每年跋涉到微小的火車小鎮見到貓和多摩主題站，配備了多摩的火車，多摩紀念品商店，咖啡館多摩，甚至建築物形似貓的臉。
特別權力：野心。
潛在的座右銘： “這是一個狗吃狗的世界讓貓處理它。”
更多：救了一個日本火車站的貓
這些舊金山鸚鵡都有自己的粉絲俱樂部。
這些舊金山鸚鵡都有自己的粉絲俱樂部。
5 ，電報山野生鸚鵡（舊金山）
約200錐尾鸚鵡鸚鵡一個烏煙瘴氣駐留在公園的電報山舊金山附近，遠離他們的老家在南美洲。
已成為一個城市的主食和2003年的紀錄片分“的電報山野生鸚鵡，”他們有自己的粉絲俱樂部，並專門為他們準備在舊金山旅遊指南條目。
雖然他們的起源是不確定的，它認為這些第一鸚鵡聚集在山上從囚禁後逃逸 - 百萬被帶進美國之前限制被放置在野生鸚鵡的進口於1993年。
特殊電源：尋找在舊金山廉價的住宿。
潛在的座右銘： “自由飛行者聯合起來！”
6，可愛的克努特（柏林）
放棄，愛情，名人，亂倫......“可愛的克努特，”北極熊出生在柏林動物園，2006年包的詳細劇比任何終身特殊的故事。
由他的母親，從東德一個名為托斯卡前馬戲表演，克努特的eisbar（“北極熊”在德國）被單獨留在他的孿生兄弟在短短四天老去世拒絕在出生時。
當他的故事和畫面打到全國媒體，就消化了德國的心，並引發了國際轟動。
他的第一次公開亮相柏林帶來了成群的與數百名記者到柏林動物園。
隨後，他登上明信片和郵票，激發了花生醬被稱為山寨貨“Knutella”，並在他的形象造的動物標本。
他甚至由Annie Leibovitz的拍攝，並疊加到了“名利場”的封面特色萊昂納多·迪卡普里奧。
柏林動物園通過正式克努特註冊為商標的資本化城市的Knutmania。
但是，當可愛的小熊長大了，他崇拜的公眾打開。
克努特成為了亂倫的傳聞困擾時，他的北極熊的女友竟然是一個遠房親戚，被欺負的同胞熊包括他自己的母親。
像許多名人的童年，他無法應對成名。
Gawker的甚至比喻他的崩潰給布蘭妮斯皮爾斯的。
3月19日，2011，當他可是四十歲了，克努特折疊成自己的游泳池和死亡。
悲傷的流露隨後用鮮花，紀念館和從市長的聲明。
使用克努特的毛皮熊的雕塑被陳列在自然歷史博物館柏林的博物館。
特殊電源：撕裂抽搐。
潛在的座右銘： “非物質文化遺產斌EIN bearliner。”
更多：搜索是世界上最醜的動物
在埃及，我\'米崇拜如神。 在這裡，我\'米甚至更大。
在埃及，我崇拜的神。在這裡，我什至更大。
7 ，麥高McHamish的酷貓（聖安德魯斯，蘇格蘭）
聖安德魯斯的17000人的蘇格蘭小鎮徘徊在關於集體寵物，姜furball，麥高McHamish危險地接近偶像崇拜。
開始時，他是一個年輕，叛逆的小貓14年前，McHamish會離開家，定期遠航到當地的餐館，書店和家園。
該鎮重重的摔他。
今年四月，聖安德魯斯豎立貓的居民出資8000美元鑄造銅像，以紀念自己心愛的朋友。
傳記 - “麥高McHamish，酷貓關於鎮” - 已於今年出版。
本地名人定期更新的關於鎮在他的忙探班Twitter的。
“花我晚上看閃舞DVD上。＃whatafeeling”和“我在Drouthies如果有人幻想[買我]喝一杯。＃喘氣，”是一些最近的鳴叫。
特殊電源：與風格的姿態。
座右銘： “有一次，我的主人現在我有一個工作人員。”
8，麥克無頭雞（夫魯塔，科羅拉多州）
名為邁克著名的無頭雞已成為畈鎮夫魯塔，科羅拉多州的一個圖標。
早在1945年，懷恩多特雞持續了18個月的生命後，一個農民的妻子砍掉它的頭。
她所期待的雞肉晚餐，而是得到了她生活的衝擊的無頭雞大搖大擺地走了。
據1945年“生活”雜誌的一篇文章，斧頭成功地“剪掉大部分的頭骨，但保留完好的一隻耳朵，頸靜脈和大腦，它控制運動功能的基礎。”
邁克成為一個受歡迎的雜耍吸引力，業主甚至據說投保雞1萬美元。
無頭雞終於通過了於1946年在從健康並發症的亞利桑那州的汽車旅館。
現在弗魯塔記得它的雞鎮每年五月與麥克無頭雞節和麥克無頭雞5K。
特殊電源：劫後餘生的斬首。
潛在的座右銘： “誰需要大腦？”