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This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

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A fascinating love story of storks Klepetan and Malena continues to melt people’s hearts all around the world. For the 16th time, a devoted male stork Klepetan flew thousands of kilometers back home to his handicapped mate who can’t fly.

It all began more than 20 years ago when a kind-hearted widower Stjepan Vokic found the female stork badly injured by hunters. Vokic decided to give her a second chance at life by adopting and taking care of her. On the rooftop of the man’s house, Malena and Klepetan’s love blossomed. At first, it seemed that their relationship was doomed because Malena was unable to migrate with her mate at the end of summer. Nevertheless, their love persisted. Each year Klepeton leaves Malena to the Vokic’s care and migrates to South Africa, flying back home to his love every March.

Scroll down to see this peculiar relationship for yourself and check out the story we wrote about them a few years ago.

More info: total-croatia-news.com

For the 16th time, a devoted male stork Klepetan flew thousands of kilometers back home to his handicapped mate Malena

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

Image credits: Domagoj Sever

More than 20 years ago Malena was adopted by Stjepan Vokic after her wing was injured by hunters

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

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Image credits: Jana Water

Stjepan gave Malena a second chance at life by taking care of her

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

Image credits: AFP

On the rooftop of the man’s house, Malena and Klepetan’s love blossomed

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

Image credits: Ivo Biocina

Since Malena was unable to fly, the chances of her new relationship to last were slim

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

Image credits: Katerina Zvonic

Nevertheless, the love of this amazing stork couple persisted

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

Image credits: Alan Stankovic

After leaving Malena at Stjepan’s care Klepetan migrates to South Africa at the end of every summer

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

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Image credits: Alan Stankovic

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But he never fails to come back home to her at the beginning of spring

This Stork Has Been Flying 13,000 Km Each Year For 16 Years To See His Injured Soulmate

Image credits: Total Croatia News

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Andželika

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What do you think ?

glowworm2 6 years ago

If I'm not mistaken, storks mate for life--so the fact that this one keeps coming back every year to her regardless makes this relationship extra touching.

48points

Monilip 6 years ago

Yes, they do. And sometimes, when one of the pair is too injured to find food, the other one stays with first one whole Winter.

16points

Load More Replies...

Usernameofgag 6 years ago

Make movie about it, please!!!

26points

Alia G. 6 years ago

Or a children’s book, that would be adorable!

9points

Load More Replies...

Hans 6 years ago

This is the kind of story we want to see on Bored Panda! No "The Internet is all [verb] about XYZ", no "People were quick to react: [Facebook], [Facebook], [Facebook]", just a nice story!

23points

John L 6 years ago

What a wonderful love story. It just shows how true love can break down all barriers. 00-Yep-5ad...69376a.gif

14points

Johanna Zamora 6 years ago

F*****g hunters.

7points

Birdgirl45 6 years ago

Awww this is precious

7points

Liz Karsa 6 years ago

Stjepan is a man among men. What a great, great human being!

6points

Santino Marazzo 6 years ago

Sad really, that Stella has to put a negative on such a beautiful story.

6points

sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago

A love story indeed, actually there are many creatures that mate for life, so heartwarming and perhaps somewhat better than humans. It would be a nice story for T.V. , or a lovely story for a child's book. !!!

5points

varwenea 6 years ago

Somehow, they look good together, like a cute couple but storks.

4points

Gina 6 years ago

The stork's name is Malena, which means The Little One in Croatian, not Melana.

4points

Gina 6 years ago

Thanks for correcting. This wonderful bird deserves we call her respectfully by her name.

-2points

Load More Replies...

Heather Johnson 6 years ago

Best post I've seen all day.

3points

Sunny San Diego 6 years ago

Amazing story

3points

Xiaoting Zhu 6 years ago

I am not crying my eyes are just sweating

3points

Meeow 6 years ago

I have this story posted on forum in 2016 Stork and he kept coming back. That's truly real love right there, very touching story!

2points

Gillian Black 6 years ago

makes me want to cry as that is devotion for sure , wow I dont think I will want to read that he didnt make it one year or she passed away

2points

Luna Matara 6 years ago

Very beautiful story,, :')

2points

Linda Matheny 6 years ago

Stjepan is a wonderful man to take on her care!

2points

Rebekah 6 years ago

And now storks are having better relationships than me. Fabulous.

2points

Carmen Elena 6 years ago

This is beautiful! Idk this is whether love or instinct... but this is beautiful!

2points

Pandola 6 years ago

this story makes me very happy...it's touching...

1point

BarryAllenTheFlash 6 years ago

I want someone to look at me the way those storks look at each other

1point

Gerard Kiekens 6 years ago

Thank you Stjepan.. You did a great job.

1point

Elie Georges 6 years ago

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/18481-don-t-let-them-kill-him-klepetan-s-feather-in-letter-to-lebanese-president That's another angle on that story.

1point

Darlin Gana 6 years ago

I can confirm this to be truth, I live in Croatia and whole country waits for Klepetan to come back each year. <3

1point

MammaG 6 years ago

Dang it. Something in my eye. Stupid storks.

1point

Diana Snow 6 years ago

Aww too bad more humans are not so loyal.

1point

Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago

The last photo is extremely touching!

1point

Karl Marx 6 years ago

That's amazing!

1point

Николай Копченов 5 years ago

Как трогательно! Какой замечательный мужчина - помог Малене выжить и найти Любовь на всю жизнь! Степан любит их как своих детей! Всевышний любит таких как он! Степан, здоровья тебе!

0points

Dimitri Alexandris 6 years ago

And here you can see live a Storck's nest in northwestern Greece: https://pitsirikos.net/2018/04/%CE%B6%CF%89%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AE-%CF%83%CF%8D%CE%BD%CE%B4%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%86%CF%89%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%AC-%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B3%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7-2/ . There are four eggs at the moment. The camera stays online until August that all six birds will leave for Africa.

0points

Maryen Kelly 6 years ago

"Yes mom I have a mate, geez get off my back.

0points

Bella Smith 6 years ago

I started crying in the middle of class

0points

Bella Smith 6 years ago

This is gorgeous words cannot express

0points

Load More Replies...

Mar1a 6 years ago

Literall lovebirds

0points

Eidet Ic 6 years ago

AAAAWE. *sniff*sniff*

0points

Donegalsean 6 years ago

Real Love!

0points

Jonathan Eatsalot 6 years ago

Papa stork was a rolling stone....

0points

Stella Rastovac 6 years ago

Yeah, but she also cheated on him when he was late :D When he returnd, he beat the c**p out of that other stork and smashed all of their eggs. Real drama few years ago... And it is Malena ( it means something like little girl in Croatian,it sounds like that movie with Monica Bellucci).

0points

Sarcasticow 6 years ago

What a family drama! xD thanks for sharing!

2points

Load More Replies...

Monilip 6 years ago

Well, I read that one time stranger male Stork came to the nest (before Klepetan who was late one year) and Malena chase him out of the nest and waited for Klepetan. Can you post to link about your story with Malena's "cheating"? I'm interested

1point

Santino Marazzo 6 years ago

Sad, that you have to be so negative about a beautiful.

0points

A dose of reality... 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Buddy The Doggo 6 years ago

I was aware of this... does the fact that they can even fly that far not amaze you?

6points

Load More Replies...

glowworm2 6 years ago

If I'm not mistaken, storks mate for life--so the fact that this one keeps coming back every year to her regardless makes this relationship extra touching.

48points

Monilip 6 years ago

Yes, they do. And sometimes, when one of the pair is too injured to find food, the other one stays with first one whole Winter.

16points

Load More Replies...

Usernameofgag 6 years ago

Make movie about it, please!!!

26points

Alia G. 6 years ago

Or a children’s book, that would be adorable!

9points

Load More Replies...

Hans 6 years ago

This is the kind of story we want to see on Bored Panda! No "The Internet is all [verb] about XYZ", no "People were quick to react: [Facebook], [Facebook], [Facebook]", just a nice story!

23points

John L 6 years ago

What a wonderful love story. It just shows how true love can break down all barriers. 00-Yep-5ad...69376a.gif

14points

Johanna Zamora 6 years ago

F*****g hunters.

7points

Birdgirl45 6 years ago

Awww this is precious

7points

Liz Karsa 6 years ago

Stjepan is a man among men. What a great, great human being!

6points

Santino Marazzo 6 years ago

Sad really, that Stella has to put a negative on such a beautiful story.

6points

sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago

A love story indeed, actually there are many creatures that mate for life, so heartwarming and perhaps somewhat better than humans. It would be a nice story for T.V. , or a lovely story for a child's book. !!!

5points

varwenea 6 years ago

Somehow, they look good together, like a cute couple but storks.

4points

Gina 6 years ago

The stork's name is Malena, which means The Little One in Croatian, not Melana.

4points

Gina 6 years ago

Thanks for correcting. This wonderful bird deserves we call her respectfully by her name.

-2points

Load More Replies...

Heather Johnson 6 years ago

Best post I've seen all day.

3points

Sunny San Diego 6 years ago

Amazing story

3points

Xiaoting Zhu 6 years ago

I am not crying my eyes are just sweating

3points

Meeow 6 years ago

I have this story posted on forum in 2016 Stork and he kept coming back. That's truly real love right there, very touching story!

2points

Gillian Black 6 years ago

makes me want to cry as that is devotion for sure , wow I dont think I will want to read that he didnt make it one year or she passed away

2points

Luna Matara 6 years ago

Very beautiful story,, :')

2points

Linda Matheny 6 years ago

Stjepan is a wonderful man to take on her care!

2points

Rebekah 6 years ago

And now storks are having better relationships than me. Fabulous.

2points

Carmen Elena 6 years ago

This is beautiful! Idk this is whether love or instinct... but this is beautiful!

2points

Pandola 6 years ago

this story makes me very happy...it's touching...

1point

BarryAllenTheFlash 6 years ago

I want someone to look at me the way those storks look at each other

1point

Gerard Kiekens 6 years ago

Thank you Stjepan.. You did a great job.

1point

Elie Georges 6 years ago

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/18481-don-t-let-them-kill-him-klepetan-s-feather-in-letter-to-lebanese-president That's another angle on that story.

1point

Darlin Gana 6 years ago

I can confirm this to be truth, I live in Croatia and whole country waits for Klepetan to come back each year. <3

1point

MammaG 6 years ago

Dang it. Something in my eye. Stupid storks.

1point

Diana Snow 6 years ago

Aww too bad more humans are not so loyal.

1point

Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago

The last photo is extremely touching!

1point

Karl Marx 6 years ago

That's amazing!

1point

Николай Копченов 5 years ago

Как трогательно! Какой замечательный мужчина - помог Малене выжить и найти Любовь на всю жизнь! Степан любит их как своих детей! Всевышний любит таких как он! Степан, здоровья тебе!

0points

Dimitri Alexandris 6 years ago

And here you can see live a Storck's nest in northwestern Greece: https://pitsirikos.net/2018/04/%CE%B6%CF%89%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AE-%CF%83%CF%8D%CE%BD%CE%B4%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%86%CF%89%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%AC-%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B3%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7-2/ . There are four eggs at the moment. The camera stays online until August that all six birds will leave for Africa.

0points

Maryen Kelly 6 years ago

"Yes mom I have a mate, geez get off my back.

0points

Bella Smith 6 years ago

I started crying in the middle of class

0points

Bella Smith 6 years ago

This is gorgeous words cannot express

0points

Load More Replies...

Mar1a 6 years ago

Literall lovebirds

0points

Eidet Ic 6 years ago

AAAAWE. *sniff*sniff*

0points

Donegalsean 6 years ago

Real Love!

0points

Jonathan Eatsalot 6 years ago

Papa stork was a rolling stone....

0points

Stella Rastovac 6 years ago

Yeah, but she also cheated on him when he was late :D When he returnd, he beat the c**p out of that other stork and smashed all of their eggs. Real drama few years ago... And it is Malena ( it means something like little girl in Croatian,it sounds like that movie with Monica Bellucci).

0points

Sarcasticow 6 years ago

What a family drama! xD thanks for sharing!

2points

Load More Replies...

Monilip 6 years ago

Well, I read that one time stranger male Stork came to the nest (before Klepetan who was late one year) and Malena chase him out of the nest and waited for Klepetan. Can you post to link about your story with Malena's "cheating"? I'm interested

1point

Santino Marazzo 6 years ago

Sad, that you have to be so negative about a beautiful.

0points

A dose of reality... 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Buddy The Doggo 6 years ago

I was aware of this... does the fact that they can even fly that far not amaze you?

6points

Load More Replies...

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