Smarter than the average bear?

The popular children’s entertainer and prominent conservationist Yogi Bear has been detained on terrorism charges, following an incident earlier today in Jellystone National Park. Mr Bear was observed retreating from a suspicious cartoon picnic basket that passers-by swiftly reported to the Homeland Security terrorism hotline. The basket was later destroyed in a controlled explosion. After an extensive bearhunt that lasted well into the night, the Jellystone resident was taken away in manacles, in the face of repeated protests from friends and apparent ambivalence from Ranger Smith, Yogi’s long-running opponent at Jellystone.

A statement has since been issued by Mr Bear’s representative Boo Boo, saying that his friend was simply trying to lose weight in an effort to impress his on-again-off-again ursine partner, Cindy.

Most commentators expect him to be released by the end of next week, but early reactions from Hollywood, reported by trade website Variety, have seen producers appearing to turn cold on the mooted Yogi Bear 3D feature, a production originally slated for a 2011 release.