Swan, Swan-Shaped Boat to Part Ways

[March 19, 2008]  BERLIN (AP) -- A long love story is over at a German zoo: Petra the swan and her swan-shaped paddleboat are parting ways. Petra, a black swan, became a minor celebrity in 2006 when she became so attached to the boat -- which is shaped like an oversized white swan -- that she refused to leave its side.

Officials in the western city of Muenster decided to let her stay with it over the winter, bringing both bird and boat into a city zoo.

However, Petra met a live swan this winter. Zoo director Joerg Adler says she and her new mate -- a white swan -- are building a nest together.

The boat is to be returned to its local owner on Thursday.

[Associated Press; By REGAN McTARSNEY]

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