"Rodan" the responsible stork!

Special stork love story in eastern Croatia
Croatian Times

The love story of stork "Rodan" and his female partner "Malena" in Brodski Varos in eastern Croatia is the most popular and beloved in their area.

But it is also shows that storks tend to be attached to nests as much as to partners.

Rodan flies to the south and then back each year going 13,000 kilometres through the air just to be with his partner Malena, who cannot fly owing to an injured wing.

Every year, he usually returns at the same time on the same day, but this year he arrived two hours earlier than usual yesterday (Weds).

He is welcomed by numerous residents and journalists, but what he loves the most is his Malena in their nest.

The daily Jutarnji list has reported that Stjepan Vokic has taken care of Malena for the last 17 years since she was injured by hunters who broke her wing and stopped her from flying forever.

Since 1993, Malena has lived in her nest at Vokic’s house.

Stjepan said: "Every year, I worry that Rodan will not return safely to his Malena. I know many other storks return a few days later, but he knows he needs to return home because Malena is waiting for him."

Malena and Rodan have had 32 chicks, and Vokic is assured there will be a lot of small storks in the nest in the future.