A sweet Muscovy-cross white duck (with the most amazing pink bill and feet to match) was allowed to escape from the High Park zoo sometime shortly after the strike commenced. I happened upon this sweet soul last Friday at the south-easterly corner of Grenadier Pond. She was all alone and happily squeaked when approached. She was hungry and very friendly and trusting and slightly afraid of the water and, of course, unable to fly. Her blue eyes were magnificent. What a beauty she was!
I alerted High Park management on Sunday morning who, indeed, sent a management representative to attempt to capture her. Unfortunately, this woman was unprepared and unequipped and not very concerned at all. She stayed for about one half hour trying to capture the duck but with no luck. Although the High Park zoo representative ASSURED us she would return within the next couple of hours that very day with a net (as I told her she should bring in the first place) she did not return and I am horrified by her lack of compassion and concern for a helpless creature in her care who, clearly, was in harm’s way. As of Monday morning, the duck is gone and we fear a fox may have found her. I have spent much of my time with this duck feeding her up with nutritious food in the hopes she would not put herself in harm’s way looking for a snack. I stayed with her when the zoo representative left and, in fact, many people came to know her and a large group (dog-walkers passing by, people fishing, etc.) was becoming increasingly concerned for her and about her. I went back late Sunday evening to feed her and thought we would try again Monday morning. I was very annoyed the zoo representative had let us all down so badly.
It is unfortunate that the zoo is entrusted with animals and then allow this to happen. The zoo representative mentioned that two other creatures had escaped also and, indeed, a baby Muscovy-cross also escaped but had returned.
This poor, sweet, trusting soul found herself in a horrible position through no fault of her own.
My friend, Bonnie (also a member of this forum) tried very hard with me to capture this poor thing and return her to her pen at the zoo. For more information and some pictures of this lovely duck please visit Bonnie's flickr site at ________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonniesducks/In the interim, I will continue to check for her in the hopes she has just relocated. If you visit Bonnie's site and see her picture I am sure you will see why this duck became very dear to us. Of course, if you are in High Park and happen to see her please contact me immediately and I will contact High Park management.
Thank you.
