Aalfred, the pet eel who has lived in a German family’s bathtub for 33 years, may have to be relocated to a nearby canal.
Animal rights protesters have complained that the eel, who has gained nationwide fame since the media started reporting on it a few weeks ago, is being held in unnatural circumstances.
The eel was caught in 1969 by Paul Richter, who took it home for supper. But Richter’s children refused to let him kill the eel and it has become part of the family. Aalfred (Aal means eel in German) swims into a bucket whenever someone needs to wash.
But the eel’s future now hinges on veterinary experts. Authorities sent a vet to check on Aalfred this week.
“The vet found that he looked quite fit and after all this time, he’d be dead if he wasn’t happy in the bath,” said city spokeswoman Barbara Gottschlich.
Eels can live to be 80.
