Heart pig Wilma and the tomcat crime thriller: animal stories from NRW!

Heart pig Wilma and the tomcat crime thriller: animal stories from NRW!

What could make the wildlife in Northern Germany more exciting than the stories of unforgettable personalities and charming animal adventures? In this sense, the year 2025 already has some remarkable experiences to offer that will not only fill the regional newspaper, but also warm the heart.

A cat named Aramis, who lived on the popular North Sea island of Norderney, has caused a stir. Vacationers thought he was a stray and quickly took him with them to North Rhine-Westphalia. But the joy about the new cat only lasted for a short time, because Aramis was in Norderney for a reason. Thanks to an implanted chip, a veterinary practice in North Rhine-Westphalia was able to track down its rightful owners. Of course they wanted their beloved Aramis back, which meant that the police had to be called in. In January 2025, the nine-year-old cat finally returned to his family - a story that echoes the typical "What an adventure!" screams.

The heart pig Wilma

While the drama surrounding Aramis unfolded in North Rhine-Westphalia, a completely different animal is enjoying great popularity at Hanover Zoo: Wilma, a Bentheimer country pig who became a star with a heart-shaped patch of fur on her right side. The carers affectionately call them “sweethearts”. This breed of pig, which comes from the county of Bentheim and Emsland, has an exciting history. Not only does it enjoy high quality meat, but it also has a long tradition that dates back to the 19th century. But unfortunately the colorful Bentheimer pig is threatened with extinction. Fortunately, interest in this breed has increased again in recent years, so that it is increasingly being used in gastronomy and food production. This makes particularly attentive animal lovers proud!

Fridolin family and the storks

The wind blows on a high ladder, far above the meadows - storks nest here and attract everyone's attention. Stork Fridolin and his partner Mai became proud parents this year. After their young storks were injured in an attack by another white stork at the end of June, the shock was great. The little ones were treated with a lot of love in an aviary and after a short time they were allowed to return to the nest. The Nabu Species Conservation Center Leiferde keeps animal lovers up to date with its live webcam offering and lets us take part in the life of the stork family up close. A nice example of how nature and animal protection can go hand in hand!

A rooster causes concern and a turtle causes a sensation

Who would have thought that a rooster named Hermann could cause such a stir in East Frisia? Police have been conducting investigations for weeks to find the owner of this cheeky fowl, which kept appearing next to the A28. Finally, Hermann was caught by animal rescuers and taken to a sanctuary. Another animal star is the green sea turtle Ernie, who has been gracing the walls of the Wilhelmshaven Aquarium since this year. Weighing almost 100 kilograms, it swims calmly among the different species of sharks and rays. She particularly enjoys snacking on fresh broccoli – an unusual yet appetizing culinary delight!

And while we are happy about the animal stories in northern Germany, the story of Gorden the cat warms the heart. In Bockhorn he has found a new home in a bank branch and enjoys the daily cuddles from you customers and employees. A nice zoo in the city, you could say.

The animal world remains exciting and we can look forward to more stories. Stay tuned when it comes time again: “Animal Stories from Northern Germany”!