Another Chapter in the Famous Croatian Love Story of Klepetan & Malena

Klepetan & Malena (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube/CroatiaFullofLife)

Another chapter was opened this past weekend in the remarkable love story of two long-legged birds from Varoš in eastern Croatia, which has gone on for the last 15 years.

The love story of storks Klepetan and Malena has captured the hearts of many in Croatia for over 15 years now.

The two storks made their nest on a chimney in Brodski Varos in eastern Croatia more than two decades ago. The pair would fly together until poachers injured Malena’s wing which left her flying capabilities restricted.

With storks being a migrating bird, this caused a problem. Every winter for the last 15 years Klepetan has left Croatia and make his way more than 13,000 km to the warmer climates of Africa.

Without fail, however, Klepetan has always managed somehow to negotiate his return to Croatia in the spring when the weather warms up to be reunited with Malena.

Klepetan & Malena

Malena always takes Klepetan’s departure hard, and on the weekend she had to deal with it again as Kleptan flew off on his 13,000 km journey.

Kleptan and Malena had been together since the middle of April this year after it was feared he would not make it back this year when he had not turned up in March.

Malena will wait now until March next year in anticipation for Klepetan’s return for the 16th year in a row.

Mr. Stjepan Vokić

“Malena was sad when Klepetan left, she would eat the fish I fed her, but today she eat two fish and she is good. She accepts it now when he goes. But it is still difficult for me, so many years taking care of Klepetan and greeting him and now where is he? how is he? let God take of him,” Stjepan Vokic, who has cared for the storks for decades, told BrodPortal.