[2] Croatian janitor Stjepan Vokić found Malena while fishing in 1993; she had been shot by hunters and was unable to fly.

Through a radio tracking band, it was determined that Klepetan made a 13,000-kilometre (8,000 mi) month-long journey from South Africa to Croatia to meet up with Malena each year.

[2][4] In 2017, Klepetan returned to find another bird and a newly laid egg in Malena's nest.

[11][12] Even after her death, Klepetan always visits Malena's grave under Vokić's apple tree when he is around, which is an unusual animal behavior.

[13] The Croatian tourism board created an animated video of Klepetan and Malena to promote Croatia.

[14] The pair of storks was the subject of a video that led to Lebanon adopting protections for migratory birds.