Duck shot at Whanganui’s Rotokawau Virginia Lake getting treatment after five days on the run

Council chief executive David Langford says last weekend’s incident is a “gross example of animal cruelty”. Photo / Neil Beissel

Benedict the duck, shot by a crossbow at Whanganui’s Rotokawau Virginia Lake, has been caught after five days days on the run.

He was taken to Bird Rescue Whanganui-Manawatu in Turakina on Thursday night and was on his way to Palmerston North on Friday morning to get the bolt removed at Massey University’s Wildbase Hospital.

Whanganui resident Neil Biessel and his wife Sue, along with a group of volunteers, had been trying to catch Benedict since last Sunday morning.

He said Benedict was near a family feeding the ducks on Thursday afternoon.

“My wife started hand-feeding the ducks she knows and he thought that was pretty cool.

“He got a bit more relaxed and a bit more distracted and Sue managed to grab him.

“I put a blanket over them to calm him down and we put him in a box.”

A duck at Whanganui's Rotokawau Virginia Lake was shot with an arrow/crossbow bolt. Photo / Neil Beissel

Whanganui District Council is in charge of the lake and reserve.

Chief executive David Langford said last weekend’s incident was a “gross example of animal cruelty”.

“Unless someone’s out in the bush doing proper hunting, people shouldn’t be shooting anything, and definitely not within the urban area of the city,” he said.

“I’m pleased the duck has been caught and is getting some treatment and some care.”

Bird Rescue Whanganui-Manawatu manager Dawne Morton said police were yet to be notified but the bolt stuck in Benedict would be taken to the Whanganui station after it was removed.

Whanganui-Ruapehu police area commander Neil Forlong said animal cruelty was an offence and police took it seriously.

“If you’re caught doing it, you will be held to account, it’s that simple.

“It’s just not acceptable.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.