Are there such things as famous pelicans? Well, Mykonos is like no other place and has a very unique mascot : Petros the Pelican. This living bird is adored by locals and appear in any guide to Mykonos. Here’s the incredible story of the notorious Mykonos pelican and its successors.
If you spend 5 days in Greece or more, you have to visit the wonderful island of Mykonos. Imagine sun-kissed skin, warm sand between your toes on party beaches and sunsets so beautiful they’ll take your breath away… It’s no wonder visitors keep coming back year after year and Mykonos instagram spots are world famous.
Just when you think that the little gem of the Mediterranean sea has it all, from romantic hotels to a bustling town – they’re not done yet. Their mascot is an adopted pelican that fly around town with its signature beak out for the world to see (and photograph)!
Meet Petros the Pelican, a one-of-a-kind mascot with a headline-worth story.
Great White Pelican : General facts
In order to understand how crazy this story is, you need to know a few things about pelicans. First, where do pelicans live in general? They can be found on any continent, except Antarctica. They like warm weather and usually hunt in inland water sites.
At first glance, Mykonos is surrounded by the great Mediterranean sea and is not the privileged place of pelicans. However, Petros the pelican Mykonos is not a legend! This huge pelican (and his friends) has been living on the island since the 50s’.
But how long do pelicans live? In the wild, a great pelican can live between 15 and 25 years. Now, let’s get into the story of who Petros the Pelican and co are, how he ended up there and where to find him. It’d be a shame to miss the mascot of Mykonos when travelling on the island, right?
Petros the Pelican : a unique and touching story
Pelicans are not born in the Aegean Sea and it is very rare that they decide to settle there. So, what happened to Petros the Pelican? And why did he become the most famous pelican in the world? History and legends intermingle, but the facts are there: friendly pelicans have chosen the island as their home and put on a show to tourists every day in Mykonos.
Lost pelican : how did Petros the Pelican ended up on Mykonos?
Imagine yourself in 1958. A Myconian fisherman, named Thodoris Kiradonis, found a wounded bird and decided to bring him home and rescue him. He gave him medicine and shelter until the pelican was strong enough to leave. However, when the bird was back one his feet, something kept him in Mykonos…
He could’ve left in nature’s wide open spaces hundreds of times but decided against it. The fisherman saved his life and treated him well, so why would he leave? Petros the Pelican made Mykonos his forever home. This fascinating creature put more trust in humans than in other birds.
He was going on walks on the port with his fisherman best friend and quickly became the center of interest of all locals. Everyone on this island was spoiling him with fresh fish and he was at all the festivities. Petros the Pelican was always next to his human friends, at the coffees and restaurants.
Petros the Pelican Mykonos Greece : his impact on the island
A beloved mascot
He charmed locals, but also tourists who were amazed by the loviness and tenderness of this wild creature. Its popularity has reached such a point that the number of tourists visiting the island has increased thanks to the bird. Pretty mad, right?
Within a few years, this adopted pelican became a real life Mykonos mascot. He was patiently posing for photos and entertaining tourists. Those pictures or paintings eventually ended up on shirts, postcards or even mugs in every souvenir shops in town.
His famous friends
You don’t have the opportunity to befriend a pelican every other day. Petros the Pelican’s fame crossed borders and international stars couldn’t resist his charm. He was petted by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a writer and photographer who once was the first lady of the United-States.
The french activist Brigitte Bardo and Persian queen Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary also visited him. This wild bird literally has more famous friends than most of us do!
The jealousy of other islands
One day, Petros the Pelican decided to visit the nearby island of Tinos. The residents there considered this as a voluntary migration which they gladly accepted since it would be good publicity for them!
When Myconians learned that the pelican of Mykonos was held captive in Tinos, they took the story to court. It’s without a doubt the only time a bird’s custody was ever disputed, but Petros is not your average bird right?
The authorities decided to bring him back to Mykonos and the locals threw him a party with good music, dancing and the bells of the Orthodox and Catholic churches rang to celebrate his return. But, we know that pelicans only live up to 25 years… Is Petros the Pelican still alive?
Mykonos pelican killed : what happened to Petros the Pelican?
Petros was so adored by the locals that they gave him his own little house for when it was too windy or cold. He was protected and fed, which is nothing like the life of a normal pelican. All these attentions allowed him to live until 33 years old! This is much more than the average pelican.
On December 2nd, 1985, the bird was hit by a car. The whole island went into mourning. The bird that was the pride of the island, has been embalmed and is exhibited at the Mykonos museum! But don’t worry, it was just the beginning of the friendship between Myconians and pelicans.
Not one, but three new Mykonos Pelicans
Petros the Pelican didn’t have children. The locals tried everything they could when Petros was still alive by bringing another female pelican on the island. It didn’t work and when the female pelican died, the international Petros lover community tried to find solutions.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis gifted Mykonos with a second female bird called Irene. Petros wasn’t interested either, which made locals laugh a lot like Mykonos is known as the capital of gays. Maybe Petros honors that reputation!
When Petros died, the island still had Irene. In addition, the Hamburg Zoo decided to donate a Petros II to this island. In 1995, a new wounded pelican was found and the locals gave him the same treatment as Petros. They called him Nikolas the Pelican.
Over the years, some pelicans died but are always replaced so that there are at least 3 pelicans on the island, always including one “Petros”. They have different names : Peter the Pelican, Pete the Pelican or Petros… Nowadays, god only knows how many pelicans are in Mykonos for real.
Where to find Petros the Pelican?
When looking for Mykonos tourist information, you don’t expect people to give you the location of a bird. But now that you’ve read this unbelievable story, I bet you’re very excited to meet Petros the Pelican. Officially, there’s no such thing as a “Pelican Bay Mykonos“.
However, the pelicans always hang out at the same spot. They pose for photos at the main port promenade and chill by Nikos’ Taverna, near Little Venice. If you go there several times, you should be lucky enough to see them.
Pelicans are friendly, but they’re still wild animals. Respect that and don’t try to touch them, play with them or scare them! Also do not give them your food as they are already fed by the fishermen.
Pelican in Mykonos : the local and international fame
Pelican Hotel Mykonos
Locals surfed on the popularity of the bird to increase tourism income. Located in the heart of Mykonos town, you can find the Pelican hotel, named after the island’s mascot. If you wish to experience the full Mykonos Pelican experience, you can stay at this highly rated hotel!
This boutique-style accommodation offer rooms with sea view balconies or terraces. The hotel has air conditioning and is well located. You can book your room at the Pelican hotel here.
Petros Le Pelican Restaurant
Last, but not least : the pelican fame crossed the Greek borders and reached Belgium! The founders of this Greek restaurant wanted to give the most authentic Greek atmosphere possible by soaking up the emblem of Mykonos. It’s located in Boncelles, near Liège in Belgium.
Where to stay in Mykonos?
Now that you everything about Petros the Pelican and its amazing story, you might wonder where to stay during your trip to Mykonos. In addition to the Pelican Hotel, here are our two favourites.
Chill Out Studio is located 400 meters from Mykonos port, where you can sea Petros the Pelican. This charming cute little complex offers several fully-equiped studios and a swimming pool from which you can see both the sea and the town. The view is as wonderful as the host.
If you wish to treat your partner or yourself with a night of luxury, Legendary Suites is the perfect fit. It’s modern, decorated with rock and white cave walls and has a huge outdoor swimming pool.
Petros the Pelican : the Wrap up
You might think that you know everything about the utterly incredible story of Petros the Pelican! However, the story is still being written daily with the news pelicans of Mykonos. You’ll have to visit it by yourself to know the rest of the story. Here’s a perfect itinerary for 3 days in Mykonos.
If you have enough time in Greece, we strongly recommend you a romantic getaway to Santorini. If the history of the pelicans of Mykonos amused you, know that the legend of Santorini being the lost city of Atlantis is just as fascinating.
Santorini is a must for anyone who like hiking through picturesque landscapes, swimming in clear blue waters or relax under an umbrella while sipping their drink of choice. To help you plan a fabulous stay, here’s a complete guide to explore Santorini in 4 days.
