A tale about a duck and a goose
A resident is concerned for the future of best friends, a duck and a goose, at Umbilo Park.
WAY down in the overgrown, little ponds of Umbilo Park, live a couple who have captured the attention of Umbilo resident, Charles van Heerden.
The unlikely couple, a duck and a goose, have become inseparable over the past few months, which is why Van Heerden has become so concerned.
Van Heerden said he has visited the park for many years and noticed the pair over the past few months, who he says are never apart.
What makes this relationship even more heartwarming, according to Charles, is that the female duck had a partner, called Percy, many years ago. “They seemed to be domestic animals who were dumped in the park. Someone stole Percy, and the female grieved for him for a while, then fell in love with a goose. Sadly, he was killed when someone stabbed him with a screwdriver and dumped his body in the pond about nine months ago,” he said, adding that it was a unnecessary killing. Once again, the female duck was left on her own to mourn the loss of a friend until she met her latest handsome goose and the pair have been together since. “They do everything together, it’s so nice to see!” he said.
But Van Heerden’s concerns and fears for the happy couple are not unfounded. Last week he spotted three men trying to entice the goose and when he approached them, they claimed he belonged to them.
“I told them to leave him alone, and they tried to attack me. This is the duck’s third partner and there’s a chance he’s going to be taken. It’s a tragic loss each time a partner is taken away from her, I am so worried, as I’ve grown so attached to them, and feed them often,” he said.
Charles said he was concerned that the hyacinth in the pond was very thick and was causing a problem for these birds.
“The hyacinth is so thick and grows so profusely, that I believe it is the reason the birds can’t swim away from predators fast enough,” he said.
He said the park was such a beautiful spot, and hoped this maintenance would remove the hyacinth.
“I come here all the time, it’s my haven, where I meet with God. I love nature and wildlife. It’s beautiful here. In the suburbia of Umbilo where children are housebound in flats, it’s a lovely place to come. I would love to start an education programme here,” he said.
