Angela Merkel's animal encounters — in pictures
A photo of Angela Merkel overwhelmed by parrots went viral, but the German chancellor has a long track record of animal encounters.
A lemur love story
The chancellor had a photogenic moment with this lemur at the Marlow Bird Park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2015, when she attended a ceremony to open the park's new grounds.
Panda diplomacy
Merkel's tenure oversaw the loaning of two pandas to the Berlin zoo. She celebrated their arrival in a visit to the zoo with China's President Xi Jinping in 2017. Xi said the two pandas served as "new ambassadors of our friendship."
Testing times in Russia
One of the most famous photos of Merkel with an animal was taken during her meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007, when he conspicuously brought his dog with him. It is widely known that Merkel does not like dogs.
Merkel at the farm
Agriculture is a major industry in Germany and as such, Merkel has many photos with farm animals. In this photo, she visited an industrial farm in Schleswig-Holstein, the home of the iconic black and white spotted Holstein cows (pictured).
Feeding time
Merkel has also had to feed a lot of animals. In this photo she meets a penguin with then Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt during the Baltic Sea States Council summit of 2012.
Dates down under with kiwis ...
Merkel has met animals from far away corners of the world. In 2014, she was introduced to this kiwi during a visit to the Motutapu Island of New Zealand.
... and koalas
Merkel was also introduced to this cuddly koala by then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. It was on the same trip that she met the kiwi — a diplomatic tour of exotic animals!
Angela Merkel has seen her fair share of animals in nearly 16 years of governing, both at home and abroad, with some encounters bearing great diplomatic significance.