An unusual friendship between a Turkish man and a swan he rescued has endured for decades. All Photos by AP
An unusual friendship between a Turkish man and a swan he rescued has endured for decades. All Photos by AP
Retired postman Recep Mirzan found Garip, a female swan, 37 years ago in Turkey’s western Edirne province.
Retired postman Recep Mirzan found Garip, a female swan, 37 years ago in Turkey’s western Edirne province.
Mr Mirzan and a group of friends were taking a shortcut in their car when they noticed the swan, with a broken wing in a field. Mirzan immediately took the swan in to protect her from predators.
Mr Mirzan and a group of friends were taking a shortcut in their car when they noticed the swan, with a broken wing in a field. Mirzan immediately took the swan in to protect her from predators.
Since then, Garip has lived on the man’s farm in the Karaagac region.
Since then, Garip has lived on the man’s farm in the Karaagac region.
Garip follows Mirzan whenever she is out of her pen, accompanying him when he is doing his chores around the farm or for his evening walks.
Garip follows Mirzan whenever she is out of her pen, accompanying him when he is doing his chores around the farm or for his evening walks.
“Since I love animals, I said to myself that I should take her home instead of leaving her as prey to foxes,” Mr Mirzan said. “We got used to each other. We never separated.”
“Since I love animals, I said to myself that I should take her home instead of leaving her as prey to foxes,” Mr Mirzan said. “We got used to each other. We never separated.”
Garip spends most of her time out of her pen and has never tried to run away from Mirzan’s farmstead.
Garip spends most of her time out of her pen and has never tried to run away from Mirzan’s farmstead.
Mirzan named the swan “Garip,” which translates as “bizarre” but is also used to describe those who are down on their luck.
Mirzan named the swan “Garip,” which translates as “bizarre” but is also used to describe those who are down on their luck.
According to the UK-based Swan Sanctuary, the average lifespan for a swan in the wild is 12 years. It says that, in protected environments, they can live up to 30 years.
According to the UK-based Swan Sanctuary, the average lifespan for a swan in the wild is 12 years. It says that, in protected environments, they can live up to 30 years.

MENA

The Turkish postman and his bizarre 37-year friendship with a swan - in pictures

Retired postman Recep Mirzan found Garip, a female swan, 37 years ago in Turkey’s western Edirne province

The National

February 09, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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