WDR unveils elephant and duck statues in Cologne

The WDR has unveiled two new statues, an elephant and a duck, to accompany the famous 'Die Maus' figure in Cologne. The addition expands the popular photo spot located in front of the broadcaster's headquarters.

The new figures represent characters from the long-running children's program 'Sendung mit der Maus', which has aired since 1971. The elephant was introduced to the show in 1975, and the duck in 1987. The unveiling ceremony included a performance by the WDR Funkhausorchester.

This expansion comes approximately 15 months after the original 1.70-meter fiberglass mouse statue was targeted in an arson attack in 2025. Longtime presenter Christoph Biemann noted that the new arrangement allows visitors to pose between all three characters.