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Petra's New Love

DW staff (win)December 14, 2007

Germany's most famous swan seems to have lost interest in her long-time lover -- a swan-shaped pedal boat. But the new object of affection already seems to be getting a little wary of the sexually challenged water bird.

https://p.dw.com/p/CblA
Petra the swan sits in a boat with two people as the swan-shaped pedal boat is next to it
Probably parting ways: Pedal and PetraImage: AP

Black swan Petra started her media stardom as Peter, since she'd been originally mistaken for a guy. After all, what woman could possibly be silly enough to keep chasing a completely heartless boat -- no matter how impressive it might look when compared to the real swans paddling around on Lake Aasee in the northern German town of Münster.

Be that as it may, Petra had completely fallen for Pedal, as the boat shall be known for easier reference. She was so in love that the people of Münster had to send Pedal along when Petra had to go to her winter domicile in the city's zoo.

Any attempts to get her interested in a more lively kind of companion failed miserably -- until a mute swan, let's call him Max, appeared out of nowhere and started to court Petra last weekend.

Swimming buddies

A swan cleans itself under its wing with its neck twisted
Max can do amazing things with his neckImage: AP

"The two of them are very close," Münster's zoo director, Jörg Adler, told the Associated Press, adding that Petra had shown quite a bit of interest in Max's advances.

Adler said that Petra and Max have been swimming next to each other and showed up jointly at feeding time. Pedal, on the other hand, has been keeping his countenance and does not seem too heartbroken over the adulterous behavior of his mate.

The boat's patience might be paying off: On Friday, Dec. 14, Max flew to a different pond in the zoo. It's unclear whether he'll be able to find his way back to Petra -- or whether he actually even wants to do that.

After all, mute swans are known to be monogamous -- and what man wants to listen to his girlfriend's endless stories about how great her first love used to be?

Same-sex love?

One other thing might also get in the way of Petra and Max founding a family and living happily ever after while watching their children and grandchildren grow: It's still not clear whether Max is male of female.

"You can't tell with mute swans at this age," Adler said, adding that Max was two years old at most.

Not that there would be anything wrong with Petra becoming Germany's most famous lesbian swan.