Beloved goose gunned down

Photo: Darren Robinson

18/4/2016 - PHOTO by Darren Robinson Charlie Webb and Val Wynn with a dead goose they pulled out of Strinesdale Reservoir. The goose had been shot.

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THE STRINESDALE community has been left devastated after one of two beloved geese was found shot dead floating in the reservoir and the other is nowhere to be seen.

One of the geese - a white domestic goose, which had been a well-loved and popular character at Strinesdale Country Park for over 15 years, was found floating in the water with a pellet hole in its head and one in its neck.

The other, a white Ornamental Chinese goose, had lived around the reservoir for around six years and has disappeared completely but it is understood both were likely to have been shot for meat.

Stunned locals say it appears both were killed but the one left behind was in water too deep for the yobs responsible to retrieve.

The discovery was made by locals on Sunday morning and it is believed to have occurred on Saturday night.

Charlie Webb, Strinesdale Country Park bailiff for the last 20 years and chair of Friends of Strinesdale, pulled the abandoned goose out of the reservoir and says the news has been a huge blow to the community.

Mr Webb said: "It looks like they killed both, probably to eat them but couldn't get to one of them.

"It's a sickening thought that someone could do something so cruel, so selfish. They were not able to protect themselves.

"Both geese were extremely popular with locals and visitors. There was never any complaint they had ever been aggressive towards anyone. They were both so gentle and peaceful. They were regarded as residents more than anything. We are very much attached to them both and they have brought joy to hundreds of people. They were the most gentle geese you could ever wish to meet.

"They were the only permanent geese we had at the park so that makes their loss even worse.

"There are a lot of people who loved these geese and look after them through the winter. This is just very sad news."

Sheila Kingham said: "For several years we have had two geese adorning the lower reservoir at Strinesdale, gliding round majestically together, giving pleasure to the children who came to feed them, and doing no harm to anyone. Alas, we no longer have them. Some mindless thug shot them.

"The lifeless body of one of them, no longer majestic, was found floating like a sack of rubbish and the other has disappeared, probably to be eaten. I hope it chokes them.

"We may never know who perpetrated this atrocity, but if they are reading this - if indeed they can read - they should remember that it is illegal to carry guns in a public park. I hope they get caught and severely punished."

Police have been informed but have not yet responded to the Evening Chronicle.