In the middle of Munich: strolling through the city with a nandu – then the police intervene

Created: 12/15/2022 10:21 am

By: Andreas Daschner

Eye-catcher: The man walked with his Nandu on Tuesday through Munich's pedestrian zone.

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A Slovenian tourist strolls through the Munich pedestrian zone with a Nandu and takes the subway – until the police intervene

Sabrina Höbelt was quite astonished: While strolling through the Christmas market on Tuesday, just a few meters away from her, a man with a Nandu – a flightless bird similar to an ostrich – strolled calmly down the shopping street.

"I thought I couldn't see correctly," says Höbelt.

She pulled out her phone to snap a picture of the odd duo.

After all, it's not every day you see a South American flightless bird in the middle of Munich.

What Höbelt didn't know yet: The excursion of the man and his feathered companion was over shortly afterwards.

Because what the young woman perceived as a funny situation called the police into action.

Officials stopped the man at Marienplatz and took the animal away from him – not a species-appropriate attitude, as a police spokesman explained.

Now the Nandu is sitting in the animal shelter, waiting to be housed with other dogs.

Curious duo has been to Munich before

The man and his bird are no strangers: Janez Cetin is the name of the bird keeper, is Slovenian and 60 years old.

He and his Nandu named Nande recently traveled all over Europe.

Among other things, they have already been to Venice, Vienna, Klagenfurt and in August they were also in Munich.

During his travels, the Slovenian told a Brussels newspaper that he lived on a farm with several animals.

When he needed more exercise for health reasons, he marched off with his birds - first in his home country, and then at some point abroad.

The duo traveled to their destinations in a caravan, in which the giant bird usually slept.

Luxembourg police posed for selfies with Nandu

Wherever Nande appeared, he caused a stir.

According to Cetin, he is said to have met the tourism minister in Belgrade, and in Luxembourg police officers posed for selfies with the bird.

And in Munich, a video showing Cetin pushing the bird into the subway caused a stir on social media, which not only drew enthusiastic comments.

Caused a stir: A video shows a man pushing a nandu into the subway.

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German law is fatal to bird keepers

What was the duo's undoing is German law: Nandus are considered so-called dangerous animals here, as the district administration department (KVR) reports on request.

In order to be allowed to hold these, you need a permit.

In addition, it is not species-appropriate for a flightless bird to be shown around in a big city.

How things will continue with Nande is unclear.

The KVR does not provide any information on the ongoing proceedings.

ANDREAS DASCHNER