Leaving Swan Lake

The Münster City Zoo has offered to take in both Peter and its big "friend" for the winter months. The trip to the zoo, navigating along canals and streams that lead from the swans' home on the city's Aasee lake, began Thursday and is to be completed on Nov. 9. Peter was said to have paddled obediently alongside as the object of his affection throughout journey.

Peter has been stalking the boat -- a 2-meter (6.6-foot) high, white, fiberglass structure shaped like a swan -- since the springtime.

Staff at the zoo believe the winter break may cure Peter's obsession. And if the weather doesn't do it, zoo staff are relying on the other six black swans in the zoo's collection.

"Four of them are unmated, so there's hope for Peter yet," said Monika Ewering, the swan's keeper at the zoo.

Amorous Peter may find real love

Ewering's work may not be too hard. Park visitors said they had the impression that Peter's affection for the boat was waning anyway. In recent weeks, the celebrity swan had spent less and less time trailing it and more and more time accepting food gifts from curious tourists at the lakeside.

Black swans are native to Australia but there is a small wild population in Europe, where animal protection groups feed both the black and white types during winter when lakes are frozen over.