In a small Croatian village, love once waited patiently under a red-tiled roof. Not human love, but something just as profound—if not more so. This is the story of Klepetan and Malena, two storks whose lifelong bond defied distance, disability, and the very rhythms of nature itself.
It All Began with a Broken Wing
In 1993, Stjepan Vokić, a retired school janitor from Brodski Varoš, Croatia, found a stork with a wounded wing. Her name would be Malena, and she would never fly again. Shot by hunters, she was left grounded—until Vokić took her in, built a shelter, and began a companionship that spanned decades.
But it wasn’t just Vokić whose life would change. Malena’s story was about to take flight in the most unexpected way.
Enter Klepetan: The Long-Distance Devotee
In 2002, Klepetan, a wild male stork, landed in Vokić’s backyard. He met Malena—and stayed. Every year, Klepetan would migrate to Africa in the autumn, as storks do. And every spring, against all odds, he would return—always to the same rooftop, always to Malena.
While he braved thousands of kilometers through deserts and storms, Malena waited. She couldn’t join him, but she never loved him any less for leaving.
Over 19 years, their bond blossomed. Together, they raised 66 storklings, enriching Croatia’s stork population and becoming symbols of resilience and devotion across the world.
Love That Echoed Through the Skies
Their relationship became a sensation—shared widely by Croatian media and international outlets alike. Livestreams tracked Klepetan’s annual return. Children waited for updates. Journalists called it “the world’s greatest avian love story.”
But their love story wasn’t just sweet—it was significant. In a time when climate change and human interference threaten biodiversity, the pair reminded us of nature’s fragile persistence.
A Farewell That Broke Hearts Worldwide
In 2023, heartbreak arrived. Malena passed away after a brief illness. Vokić tried to help her eat and drink, but her body had other plans. She died peacefully, her head resting in a friend’s lap. Klepetan, now older himself, continued to return—perching silently on the same rooftop, calling for her in vain.
“I tell him, ‘She’s gone now, Klepo,’” Vokić said with tearful honesty. “I buried her where she always waited for him.”
More Than a Love Story
This wasn’t just a tale of two birds. It was a beacon of hope and love watched by millions. Their 66 children now soar across Europe and Africa, a living legacy of a bond that was never meant to be—but was nurtured anyway.
At Pawpaa, we honor stories like these—not only for their emotional depth, but for what they teach us: that love knows no species, and loyalty knows no borders.
Rest in peace, Malena. Fly free, Klepetan. Your love will live forever.
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Sources & Credits:
Total Croatia News
Index.hr
Večernji List
Jelena Osijek OS (Images & Media)
TCN Live Animal Updates
