In an incredible display of loyalty and affection, a stork shows the world that humans still have a lot to learn from wildlife. For the love he carries for his soulmate, this faithful bird is making an over 5,000 miles journey every spring – for the last 20 years – only to reunite his injured lifelong partner. With his incredible devotion, the bird named Klepetan, proves everyone that love is the strongest power in the world!
It all started back in 1993 when Klepetan’s partner – Malena, got injured after being hit by a hunter. The bird had been found lying in the mud by Stjepan Vokin, a school teacher from Slavonsky Brod, a small village in Croatia. The kind hearted man fixed its wing and take care of her. He even built her a nest on his roof. It was there when Klepetan first spotted her, 20 years ago. Since then, the pair baffles the world with their incredible love story.
While Klepetan spends the winters in South Africa, his soulmate is enjoying the warm of her caretaker home. As the teacher explained, the bird is already part of the family. But since 2001, locals – and recently a massive online community – wait with excitement the early of March, for Klepetan’s return. And for nearly two decades now, the loyal stork has never failed them.
Every season, the pair bring up chicks and after they raise them together, the male is teaching the to fly and then he’s leading them to South Africa, during the winters.
The locals are so excited about their famous lovebird and they’re all waiting the early of March for Klepetan to return. So far, the oldest recorded living stork was 39 years. However, the locals are hoping this special relationship to live much longer.
More about this incredible love story, in the video below!
