Farewell to Putin: New name for Bavarian wild boar – “Just out of respect”
Created: 04/07/2022, 12:22 p.m
By: Felix Herz
The wild boar “Putin” weighs around 200 kilograms in its enclosure in the Waldhaus Mehlmeisel wildlife park.
© Nicolas Armer/dpa
Consequence of the Ukraine war: A Bavarian wildlife park renames its boar by the name of Putin.
War refugees from Ukraine also play a role here.
Mehlmeisel – Putin lives in Upper Franconia.
200 kilograms heavy, hairy and very hungry.
It is a wild boar that lives in the Waldhaus Mehlmeisel wildlife park (Bayreuth district).
However, the animal is about to change its name.
Because of the war of aggression by his namesake, the Russian president, the operator of the wildlife park Eckard Mickisch is looking for a new name for Putin.
"What the man pulls off is beneath all dignity," comments Mickisch, referring to the real Putin.
Now the new name will be determined in an online vote.
Wild Boar Putin: A heavy fellow
The beastly Putin is four years old and weighs a good 200 kilograms - and is far from adult, his father weighed 350 kilograms.
"These are really brute devices," says Mickisch, referring to the Russian wild boars, which can therefore become significantly heavier than their Central European relatives.
He got the animal as a freshman, says Mickisch.
Because the boar was of Russian descent, he called him Putin "with a smile".
"Meanwhile it has turned out that no sow deserves such a name," says Mickisch.
A few days after the attack on Ukraine, he decided not to use the name anymore.
New name for Putin: Wildpark Mehlmeisel draws consequences
Many people fled the war zone, including to Germany and Bavaria.
The Ukraine refugees have free entry to the Waldhaus Mehlmeisel wildlife park.
"Children come with their mothers, laugh and are happy - and suddenly the name Putin comes up," says Mickisch.
"The name has to go just out of respect for these people."
The wild boar Putin is socially acceptable and sociable, but in his pack of 21 animals in the wild boar enclosure the upper boar is already there.
“When he gets to the feeding trough, everyone scoots to the side.
But he's not a dictator," says Mickisch.
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What should Putin be called in the future?
There are five names to choose from
There were a good 2,700 new name suggestions after an initial call to the public.
Selenskyj and Klitschko actually turned out to be favourites.
"But I don't want to politicize," says Mickisch.
The operators limited the suggestions to five names.
Voting on Facebook runs until April 10th.
And "totally democratic," comments Mickisch.
You can choose from "Igor", "Frederick", "Mir" (Ukrainian and Russian for "peace"), "Eberhofer" and "Gustl".
A recent look at the Facebook poll shows: "Igor" is ahead.
(fh/dpa)
