Duck free of piercing - at last

WELLINGTON - A mallard duck is free of a needle in its neck after days of evading capture by concerned SPCA staff in Palmerston North.

Two Fish and Game officials managed to snare the duck with food at a pond in the central city on Friday night.

Senior officer Peter Taylor said the needle fell out of the duck's neck when the bird was caught in his net after being lured with some food by his partner.

There was no sign of infection or harm and the mallard was returned to the pond.

The SPCA has received scores of calls from members of the public worried about the duck's welfare since it was spotted swimming on the pond earlier last week.

It eluded several attempts to catch it.

It is believed that the needle was fired from a blow pipe and SPCA officials are still trying to trace the culprit.

- NZPA