Ducklings stolen from canals and ponds are being sold to children for as little as €5 as part of an ‘idiotic’ social media trend.
The DSPCA has urged the public not to contribute to a new fad that has seen dozens of Irish youths and thousands of people worldwide flaunt their new pets on TikTok.
The Dublin-based charity expected to take in 25 ducklings yesterday and has received reports of people carrying boxes of the animals around the city to sell.
Gillian Bird, head of education for the DSPCA, told the Mail that a combination of wild and farmyard ducklings are being sold.
She now fears that the uneducated buyers will soon begin to abuse their new pet. ‘We’re hoping we can stop this idiotic trend now before it becomes, “How can I torture a duckling?”‘ she said.
‘I think we’re close to a point where these young people will start to experiment. Like testing whether they can swim or how long they can stay underwater.
‘People have to realise that these animals are not going to survive in a house, or if they’re released back into the wild.
‘Earlier today, a lady rang us to say she rescued 10 ducklings from a man selling them for €5 each. She bought them all, but chances are this person is just going to flush a few more out from the canal because he made €50.
‘We also got a call from a city-based management company saying that their tenants have ducklings in their flats.
‘There are reports of kids travelling into the city centre with boxes on the Luas and selling them to whoever walks past.’
Bird said that she wants to remind parents and children that it’s illegal to remove wild animals from the wild or to keep them as pets.
‘We’re also very concerned with how these ducklings are being cared for.
‘In the wild, they have their siblings along with their parents to keep warm as they’re very prone to getting colds and dying of pneumonia.
They’re also not waterproof at a very young age so putting them in a bath is going to do more harm than good because they will get very cold and probably die as a result.
‘Putting them back into the wild is also the equivalent of signing their death warrant as they cannot fend for themselves. The message from us is to steer clear of these animals and say no to anyone who approaches you and report them to the gardaí.’
The DSPCA says it’s on hand to help any parents whose kids have bought a duckling on the street. Other animal charities and welfare groups have also received a surge in stolen duckling reports.
In an urgent notice posted to Facebook, the WRI Wildlife Hospital said: ‘We have been inundated with ducklings; currently caring for over 100.
‘It has come to our attention that young people are being offered ducklings for €5 to keep as pets.
‘These poor ducklings simply will not survive as they have not had time to learn feeding skills and do not do well on their own. We simply cannot take them all, so please, please do not buy a “cute duckling”.’
Clondalkin Animal Aid also said it is aware of the trend. ‘We’ve become aware of the new apparent trend amongst teenagers of getting a pet duckling,’ the charity said on social media.
‘Please do not allow your teenager to get a pet duck. They do not do well without other ducks and many people don’t understand their needs. The cruelty we’ve seen already is just awful. Can’t believe I’m even writing this.’
Thankfully, Clondalkin Animal Aid has been ‘inundated’ with offers of help to transport the stolen ducklings. ‘We’ve have more than enough offers of help now.
‘A wonderful man who helps us regularly is able to take ducklings for us and will arrange for them to be placed in suitable settings.
‘We’re also looking for volunteers in the Dublin area to collect any ducks that people can’t get to us so we can ensure they are safe.’
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