June 20, 2026, 9:10 p.mJune 20, 2026, 9:10 p.m
The grebe sits at the vet, completely unimpressed by the arrow that pierces him.Image: Klewe fire department
The fire brigade in Germany rescued a bird that had been shot during an unusual operation. There was an arrow sticking straight through the animal’s neck, but the bird was still swimming happily on a lake in Kleve in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday.
Residents discovered the seriously injured grebe there and alerted the fire department, the emergency services said. The radio and television station WDR had previously reported.
“We also asked ourselves how the bird could survive that. “The animal was very lucky that everything vital was missed,” said a fire department spokesman about the animal’s condition.
To capture the animal, boats circled the injured grebe and captured it. The bird was given initial care on the bank, then taken to a vet and operated on. The police are now investigating who shot the bird. (sda/apa/dpa)