A few years ago, Nick Meijer, a resident of the Netherlands, was given a large swan egg that had been left behind in its nest. When all the other chicks had hatched, the egg had been left behind for mysterious reasons.
Nick Meijer
Meijer wasn’t certain whether the egg was still viable, but he figured it was worth a shot to see if it would hatch. He set the egg up in a warm incubator and waited to see whether anything would happen.
“20 days later, we saw a little beak coming out of the egg,” Meijer said in a video for The Dodo.
Nick Meijer
When the little bird emerged, Meijer fell in love instantly. He named the baby Jip and dove into learning all about swan care.
“The first day was like, ‘What’s happening? I never raised a swan before,’” Meijer said.
Nick Meijer
Before long, Meijer and Jip were absolutely inseparable. Meijer was shocked by how affectionate Jip was. The cygnet was obsessed with cuddling his dad and demanded to be carried around everywhere.
“He would snuggle into my neck or hoodie,” Meijer said. “He wanted to be with me nonstop, 24/7.”
Nick Meijer
When Jip got a little older, Meijer started letting him spend time in the pond near his house. Meijer and Jip would go on swims together, and the swan would trail behind Jip, following him around.
“[H]e would race after me,” Meijer said.
Meijer knew how important it was for Jip to get to interact with other members of his own species. He introduced him to Bjüre, another rescue swan, and the two became fast friends.
“Over time, they became buddies,” Meijer said. “They would swim together and dance together.”
Finally the day came when Jip was all grown up and ready to go off on his own. But Meijer was touched to see that even though he could have, Jip never strayed far from home.
“Jip was free to go whenever he wanted, because the gates of the yard were open, but he decided to stay,” Meijer said. “He just wanted to be there.”
For two years, Meijer and Jip grew closer and closer, developing a unique, special bond. Sadly, last fall, Jip passed away in his beloved pond. As difficult as it has been for Meijer to process his friend’s passing, what has helped him through his grief is remembering how many lives Jip touched.
“We should be more aware of how beautiful animals are and what they can give and what they deserve,” Meijer said.
