A man saved a swan, and for 37 years now, the bird has not left the retiree’s side

It all started back in 1984 when a man named Mirzan and his friends, while working as mail carriers in a small Turkish village, decided to take a shortcut through a field. During their journey across the field, they encountered an injured swan lying in the middle of the field with a broken wing.

This whooper swan was an incredibly beautiful creature, whose grace captivated everyone. Mirzan felt a profound compassion for this helpless bird and couldn’t just leave her to fate. He gently lifted the swan and placed her in the back seat of his car.

As an animal lover, after finishing his workday, he decided to take the swan home, unwilling to let predators harm her.

At home, Mirzan began treating his unusual rescued pet.

  • The swan turned out to be female, and he named her Garip, which translates as «eccentric.» From that moment, a devoted friendship between the bird and the postman began.
  • Mirzan helped Garip recover, and she quickly regained her health. Although Garip was able to fly again, she showed no desire to leave her rescuer.

Mirzan set up a small shed for her in the backyard of his farm, thinking that the swan would soon fly away to distant places. How could a bird stay on a farm when it had the freedom to fly? But Garip had no intention of parting with her rescuer. She quickly adapted to the new place and got along with other farm animals, including cats and dogs.

No matter what Mirzan was doing on the farm, his faithful snowy companion was always by his side.

In the evenings, they would walk together, enjoying the fresh rural air. Although Garip couldn’t speak human language, she was always there, supporting the postman with her presence. Most of the time, the swan stayed within her enclosure but never once tried to fly away.

Remarkably, this bird has stayed loyal to her owner for 37 years! Mirzan considers Garip his child and often tells journalists that she could have flown away long ago, but she chose to stay with him. Their life together has been a blessing for both.

According to the British Swan Sanctuary, the average lifespan of these birds in the wild is about 12 years, and in a protected environment, they can live up to 30 years. Mirzan took the swan under his care 37 years ago, and they still live together, delighting each other day after day.

Since their meeting in 1984, the postman and the swan have never been apart.

Even during a flood in their village, Garip did not attempt to fly away. Today, the bird less frequently accompanies her owner on walks, as time inevitably brings changes. However, Mirzan sincerely hopes that he and Garip will spend many more happy days together.

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