Firstpost ·
When wildlife goes viral: The troubling human obsession with animal celebrities
From Jimothy the raccoon to Neil the seal, human fascination with viral animals often ignores what the attention means for them.
Every once in a while, an animal comes along that captures the collective imagination of human beings and, for a moment, becomes something akin to a superstar in the people-world. The latest debutante to join that line-up is Jimothy, Seattle’s renowned raccoon that is capturing headlines across the world.
First spotted two months ago, this round-spined, neckless animal has since gone viral on social media and his fame has spread not only across the US but globally as well. Now his every movement is carefully mapped, multiple global news outlets are running stories on him and Seattle City Hall has already christened 2026 the summer of Jimothy. There have been the usual marketing spin-offs too and enough merchandise to earn him a spot on the roster of all-time famous fauna.
