Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Donald the rescued duck has returned to a life in the wild after being cared for by the team at the Bahrain Society for the Prevention for Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA).
He was so quackers that he tried to follow the society’s vet Hansel Thomas back to his car thinking he was just visiting the pond.
Donald and his two lady companions were brought to the old shelter in Shakoora when they were just a few days old and found wandering around in distress.
They happily inhabited one of the dog pens and one of the dog’s paddling pools was moved in so they could learn how to swim and feel more at home. Because the ducks were so young they were virtually hand reared by the vet and soon Donald wouldn’t let him out of his sight.
Joyce Hughes, BSPCA fundraising co-ordinator, said: “Of all the ducks, Donald had the most forceful character and he quite ruled the roost, being the only male, with his harem in tow! When anyone other than Hansel approached the duck pen, Donald would retreat to the furthest corner and try to hide. If, however, he heard Hansel’s voice he would wait at the fence for him and then follow him around. This little ritual was really sweet to watch as Donald became ever more devoted to Hansel.”
After BSPCA operations were moved to Askar a new problem arose – where to house the rabbits, ducks and terrapins that the BSPCA had acquired? A duck pond had not been part of the building plans and so there was no purpose-built place for them to inhabit.
Initially the rabbits were kept in the ground floor cat cages as an interim solution whilst a small pen was built in the courtyard behind the administration block. The paddling pool was moved into the pen and the ducks and rabbits were housed there.
Donald, in the meantime, got so greedy that the staff had to stand over him at feeding time to prevent him from eating not only his own food, but the rabbits’ meals as well! So it was decided that Donald was well equipped enough to look after himself and it was time for him to fly the coup and go out into the big wide world.
Donald and duck pal Carrie were popped into pet carriers and Hansel took them both to one of the water parks. Carrie seemed quite at home in her new surroundings; she swam off and began diving in seconds without a backward glance. Hansel then let Donald out of his carrier and he swam straight off to join the geese, a case of mistaken identity perhaps! After a few minutes he realised that they were different from him so he shot off and found the ducks.
Then he spotted Hansel heading away from the water’s edge so he left the ducks, got out of the water and tried to go out the gate with him! By the time the carriers were packed back into the car Donald had got back into the water so all was well.
Hansel visited the park last week and was pleased to see that Donald hadn’t forgotten him as he came up to say hello, making it a happy ending for the society’s first aquatic residents.
In recent weeks more feathered friends have arrived at the sanctuary in need of care and recuperation.
Mrs Hughes said: “We now must turn our thoughts to creating a suitable habitat for any future water birds we may have to care for and we are seeking someone who would be willing to either construct a proper pond at our Animal Welfare Centre or sponsor the building of one and, of course, we would be happy to name the duck pond after them.
If there is any corporate entity interested in assisting us please email bspca@batelco.com.bh. Alternatively, if you would just like to assist in some small way to build the pond, we have started a fund specifically for this and, to date, have raised BD320.
“If everybody could give just a little, say BD5 or BD10, we will be well on our way to starting the purpose-built duck pond, which will also provide a much better environment for the latest additions to our animal farm – a chicken, a rooster, bunnies, tortoises and terrapins … whatever next we hear you ask!”
