Swan Reunited With Beloved Paddleboat

Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:19 AM EDT

world-news, odd-news, germany, swan, lovesick

<p>Petra, a black swan, swims next to a boat shaped like an outsized white swan after she was taken back to the Aasee in Muenster, Germany, Friday, March 28, 2008. In 2006, Petra, became so attached to the boat that she refused to leave its side. Officials at a zoo in Muenster finally parted bird and boat last week after Petra settled down with a real white swan. But the romance was short-lived. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)</p>

Petra, a black swan, swims next to a boat shaped like an outsized white swan after she was taken back to the Aasee in Muenster, Germany, Friday, March 28, 2008. In 2006, Petra, became so attached to the boat that she refused to leave its side. Officials at a zoo in Muenster finally parted bird and boat last week after Petra settled down with a real white swan. But the romance was short-lived. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Advertise | AdChoices

MUENSTER — Petra the black swan has been reunited with her beloved swan-shaped paddleboat after a failed romance with a real bird.

Officials at a Muenster zoo where Petra has been spending the winter took her to a nearby lake Friday and released her next to the paddleboat — shaped like a giant white swan.

Petra became so attached to the boat back in 2006 that she refused to leave its side. When winter came around, she and the boat were taken into the zoo.

In recent months, Petra had struck up a relationship with a real white swan. However, he abandoned her last weekend — and officials decided to reunite her with the boat, which was returned to its owner only last week.

Zoo director Joerg Adler said it was too early to tell whether Petra will stay with the boat this time.

Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Associated Press's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Group Adorable, The Flock
Regions: Germany

Public Discussion (25)

Glinda

Petra is kind of a swan-stalker, really.

2 votes

#1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:44 AM EDT

LunarTick

And much like human females, she's gone back to her plastic friend since the real thing didn't quite do it for her.

I'm so glad this made the front page. : / Although, sadly, I knew exactly what this whole thing was about beforehand...

16 votes

#2 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:45 AM EDT

Picaso

LOL @ plastic, you are silly :)

2 votes

#2.1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:58 AM EDT

Sectim42

And much like human females, she's gone back to her plastic friend since the real thing didn't quite do it for her.

HILARIOUS!

2 votes

#2.2 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:12 PM EDT

jimi

Best. Comment. Ever!

#2.3 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:09 PM EDT

rottlady

Ahhhhhhhh, cute

2 votes

#3 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:50 AM EDT

Sectim42

Ahhhhhhhh, cute

I thought the same thing

1 vote

#3.1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:11 PM EDT

MrESquid

"my boyfriend is the biggest swan around. nobody can beat him. plus he's the strong silent type"

4 votes

#4 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:29 PM EDT

E.D.Kain

The swan brain is a complicated thing indeed...

2 votes

#5 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:11 PM EDT

SteveHouse

Meanwhile, in other Not News.... Wow, AP.

2 votes

#6 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:12 PM EDT

E.D.Kain

Meanwhile, in other Not News.... Wow, AP.

Oh, I thought this was the Onion...

1 vote

#6.1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:34 PM EDT

SteveHouse

Lol, nope. This piss-in-the-wind is being put forth as real news on the AP wire. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on every morning news show now.

2 votes

#6.2 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:37 PM EDT

E.D.Kain

Lol, nope. This piss-in-the-wind is being put forth as real news on the AP wire. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on every morning news show now.

I think I'll become a journalist just so that I can write this sort of junk. Ahh, look at the cute plastic swan!

1 vote

#6.3 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:38 PM EDT

David Rutt

It's hardly earth-shattering news but it's of interest to some.

Plus, all these extra "it's not really news" posts are just making it even more likely for it to stay on the front page ;-)

5 votes

#6.4 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:04 PM EDT

SteveHouse

That's actually fine, David. That means even more of us get to rail at it, and there's less of a chance of it happening again if a lot of people continue to call it for what it is.

I hope.

1 vote

#6.5 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:18 PM EDT

Tamh

This piss-in-the-wind is being put forth as real news on the AP wire

SteveHouse, it is real news, the point is that in your opinion it is not newsworthy enough to be on the front page.

If you are really concerned and looking for answers as to why AP would run this kind of story, you could go to their website and ask them.

2 votes

#6.6 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:15 PM EDT

E.D.Kain

Oh, I guess it's okay to have "news lite" to give us a breather from all the heavy stuff. The point is, this is the AP. They should be focusing on something a bit more in depth...

#7 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:58 PM EDT

Dan LS

I've often felt the same way about boats shaped like women... sadly, it never works out.

2 votes

#8 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:29 PM EDT

Awa

You need to stop letting people smash champagne bottles against your girls. That's the problem.

2 votes

#8.1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:06 PM EDT

Spooky Boyfriend

...so why is this front page news? Are all and every persons with editorial function dead? Does my comment make this more important because that isn't what I mean... What exactly is the tie-in with AP and NewsVine? ...'cause this is just crappy.

2 votes

#9 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:10 PM EDT

Spooky Boyfriend

Mark this time and date as the point where NewsVine jumped the shark. Peace out.

1 vote

#9.1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:49 PM EDT

Dan LS

...so why is this front page news?

I thought the same thing when I first read it... but upon a deeper inspection, the 'swan' appears to be a metaphor for America, while the 'beloved paddleboat' would represent the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

When our founding fathers initially released America next to her foundation of freedom and democracy, the two quickly became inseparable. Then came George Bush who briefly occupied America's attention, but ended up being just another ugly duckling. So, now we're coming back to our paddleboat of ideals, and I think the relationship will be much stronger as a result.

Anyways, I think that's why this article hit the front page.

3 votes

#9.2 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:39 AM EDT

Spooky Boyfriend

...and that is funny, funny funny because it is so true.

2 votes

#9.3 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:49 AM EDT

trex-138069

Why am I suddenly thinking of Flanders and Swann's "Armadillo Idyll?"

"Then I saw them, in the hollow of a yellow, muddy bank:
An armadillo singing -- to an armor plated tank.
Should I tell him? Gaunt and rusting, with the willow tree above
This, abandoned on maneuvers, is the object of your love?

(Sigh)

I left him to his singing, cycled home without a pause.
Never tell a man the truth about the one that he adores.
On the breeze that follows sunset, I could hear that sad refrain
Singing willow, willow, willow down the way
And I seem to hear it still, "Oh! Vive l'amour! Vive l'armadillo,
Be my darling armadillo all the day!"

1 vote

#10 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:56 PM EDT

Pamela Drew

Ah, the swans and Commons have a huge soft spot in my heart. In about 1976, possibly after the womens rowers had won the Olympic gold, some women rowers challenged the city's rule of hiring only male peddlers. Whether it's true or lore that there was an endurance challenge to get the jobs is hard to know, but women did begin peddling and probably still can based on ability alone. Go ladies!

2 votes

#11 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:06 PM EDT

stevenionDeleted

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF:

Newsvine® is a registered trademark of Newsvine, Inc. |
Newsvine is a property of

New Users:

Existing Users:

Swan Reunited With Beloved Paddleboat

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: