Swans are a type of bird that is thought to mate for life. How romantic! But one slightly confused swan in Germany has fallen in love with a boat.
Petra is a black swan who spends her winters at a zoo in Muenster, Germany. During the summer of 2006, she found true love… with a swan-shaped paddleboat. When winter came that year, Petra refused to leave her beloved. Zoo officials had to bring both boat and swan into the zoo. (The boat’s owner gave it up so Petra could keep her darling.)
Fast forward to 2008. A few months ago, Petra’s eye started to wander. She struck up a relationship with a white swan — a real swan this time. It looked like she was moving on, and the boat was returned to its owner. (Poor, sad, lonely boat!)
But then the white swan abandoned Petra. He’s been seen swimming around some other female black swans, leaving poor Petra all alone again.
The zoo has decided to reunite Petra with her first true love — the swan-shaped boat. (I wonder how the boat’s owner feels about the watercraft’s relationship with the bird?) It is too soon to tell whether Petra will stay with the boat or seek out another white male swan.
It sounds like something Disney should turn into a cartoon — swan in love with swan-shaped paddleboat. The swan tries to behave like the other swans do, going against her nature (which is to love the boat). In the end, she reunites with her one, faithful, true love. Is this a good time to sing The Love Boat theme song? I hope Petra the black swan finds a happily ever after ending with her white swan paddleboat. It’s an unconventional relationship, for sure, but if she’s happy and the boat is happy, my blessing to them both!