A male stork has proved once again that distance is no bar to true love.

Croatia's Jutarnji List reports that the stork flew thousands of kilometres from South Africa back to its handicapped mate in a Croatian village.

This was the fifth year in a row that the stork, named Rodan, has made the epic journey of some 13,000 kilometres to be with the female stork, named Malena, unable to fly since hunters shot through its wing.

Every year the couple has raised a brood of chicks which Rodan has taught to fly since Malena cannot,

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