The Prodigious Friendship Between a Swan And a Turkish Man

The unusual bond of friendship between a Turkish man named Recep Mirzan and a swan, dates back to 37 years in Turkey’s Western Edirne Province.

Recep Mirzan, a retired postman, found the female swan with a broken wing in an empty field as he took a shortcut in their car with his friends.

The 63-year-old widower, with no children, is an animal lover. He preferred taking Garip to his home instead of leaving her as a prey for foxes.

The Turkish Man named the swan, “Garip”, which translates as “bizarre”, but is also used to describe those who are down on their luck and since then, the journey of their friendship started which lasts for decades.

Garip accompanies Mirzan in his day to day activities, be it doing chores around the farm or going on evening walks.

Garip is like a child to Mirzan and she has also befriended the cats and dogs of the area.

Rightly said by the Columnist Gene Hill,  “No one can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog.”

Same is the case with Mirzan and Garip, which is an archetype that animals also crave for love and affection.

Read Also

Ancient Gandhara Artifacts Excavated in Swat

Interestingly, according to the UK-Based Swan Sanctuary, the average lifespan for a swan in the wild is 12 years. Whereas, in protected environments, they can live up to 30 years.

In the company of each other, Mirzan and Garip, will make their way into another decade.