Baby Orangutan and Centennial Elephant - NRW's Animals of the Year 2025 - A week of bizarre animal encounters stuns North Rhine-Westphalia
A week of unusual animal incidents has unfolded across North Rhine-Westphalia. From escaped hens on a train to a pony travelling in a pink car, the stories have caught public attention. Meanwhile, zoos in the region marked both joyful arrivals and sad farewells.
The week began with an odd discovery on the S6 line between Essen and Cologne. Three hens were found wandering inside the train, unnoticed until it reached Cologne-Worringen. Passengers and staff were surprised by the feathered stowaways.
In Alsdorf, near Aachen, police stopped a pink car carrying an unexpected passenger—a white pony. The driver had secured the animal with just a rope tied to a metal loop. Officers later warned that, in a crash at 50 km/h, the pony would be thrown forward with a force of 7.5 tons.
Elsewhere, a small cat survived a harrowing journey from Hanover to Bochum. The animal had hidden inside a car’s wheel well for hours before being found unharmed.
Zoos in the region also made headlines. Cologne Zoo welcomed Milumbe, a baby bonobo born to mother Malaika—the first offspring for the 12-year-old. Meanwhile, Duisburg Zoo said goodbye to Irwin, a 17-year-old koala and the oldest male in European captivity. Gelsenkirchen Zoo also mourned the loss of Antonia, a 36-year-old polar bear with dwarfism, who was euthanised due to declining health.
Wuppertal marked a historic anniversary: 75 years since Tuffi, a young circus elephant, famously leapt from the suspended monorail into the Wupper River. The event became a local legend. Finally, Krefeld Zoo reopened its state-of-the-art primate house, rebuilt after a devastating fire nearly six years ago.
The incidents highlight both the unexpected ways animals interact with human spaces and the ongoing work of zoos in conservation and care. Authorities continue to remind the public about safe transport practices for animals, while zoos reflect on milestones and losses.
