Klepetan and Malena were a pair of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) who became renowned in Croatia for their romantic endeavors. Between 2001 and 2021, Klepetan traveled from South Africa to Brodski Varoš, Croatia, each spring to mate with Malena, who was unable to travel due to a gunshot injury. On 7 July 2021, Malena died due to old age and natural causes, leaving only Klepetan alive.[1]
| Klepetan and Malena | |
|---|---|
| 2001–2021 | |
 A sketch of Klepetan and Malena |
Story
editCroatia is a popular nesting spot for white storks; some 1,500 nesting pairs reside in the country, with some villages having more storks than people.[2] Croatian janitor Stjepan Vokić found Malena while fishing in 1993; she had been shot by hunters and was unable to fly. Vokić rescued Malena and became her caretaker. In 2001, a male stork, whom Vokić named Klepetan, began to visit Malena. Klepetan returned every spring to mate with Malena. Through a radio tracking band, it was determined that Klepetan made a 13,000-kilometre (8,000 mi) month-long journey from South Africa to Croatia to meet up with Malena each year.[3][2] Vokić took care of their chicks since Malena was not able to hunt, building them a nest, shelter, and feeding them.[2][4] In 2017, Klepetan returned to find another bird and a newly laid egg in Malena's nest. Klepetan drove the male away and smashed his competitor's egg.[5] The pair had 66 chicks in total.[6][7]
In March 2019, a bird that may have been Klepetan showed up unusually early to Brodski Varoš. He left in April and did not return for the rest of the summer. Though reports said that Klepetan had died in August 2019, it turned out to be a different stork. Klepetan returned to Malena once again in April 2020 despite rumors of his death.[8] Klepetan returned for the last time in April 2021.[9]
Death of Malena
editOn 7 July 2021, Malena died of old age. Her death was announced by Stjepan Vokić. At the time of her death, she had been cared for by Vokić for 28 years.[1] She was accompanied by Klepetan at the time of her death. Vokić said he hoped Klepetan will come back to his house in 2022 despite the death of his companion.[10]
In society
editA 2017 documentary focused on the storks and Vokić.[11] The Croatian tourism board created an animated video of Klepetan and Malena to promote Croatia.[12] The pair of storks was the subject of a video that led to Lebanon adopting protections for migratory birds.[13] The pair have been described as "Croatia's most unusual love story".[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Lepan, Franjo; Osojnik, Paula; Mahmutović, Višnja Kragić (2021-07-07). "Uginula je roda Malena, shrvani vlasnik: 'Ostajemo Klepo i ja'". www.24sata.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ a b c Avakian, Talia (April 23, 2018). "This Stork Flies Over 8,000 Miles Every Spring to Visit His True Love". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ "Meet Klepetan: The Stork Who Flies 8000 Miles From South Africa to Croatia Each Year to Visit His Love". www.mentalfloss.com. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ "The man who adopted a stork". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ "TAKO VAM JE TO U BRAKU / Vratio se Klepetan, ovog puta Malena je bila sama pa je sve prošlo bez nasilja u gnijezdu". 100posto (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
- ^ "Stork Which Returned To Malena Might Not Be Klepetan". www.total-croatia-news.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Klepetan Returns to Malena for the Last Time Before Passing Away". Total Croatia News. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
- ^ "Svi su mislili da je uginuo, ali Klepetan se ipak vratio Malenoj". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "Klepetan se 19. put vratio Malenoj". N1. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Uginula roda Malena, Klepetan ostao bez ljubavi svog života". N1. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Stjepan & Malena - The Old Man and the Stork". www.autentic-distribution.com. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ "Stork in the middle with you: the story of Klepetan and Malena". Time Out Croatia. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ Sinke (2017-05-18). "Watch a Touching Message from Croatia". Croatia Times. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ "Klepetan and Malena – Croatia's most Unusual Love Story". Total Croatia News. Retrieved 2019-12-27.