Beloved 22-Year-Old Goose Killed in the Most Horrific Way Imaginable

Today, Theodore - a 22-year-old goose beloved by locals at Swanley Park - was killed by thugs with catapults. That’s horrifying enough, but it wasn’t a quick or merciful death. He was maimed and left to suffer, with such a horrific injury that his final hours must have been filled with confusion, pain, and fear.

He was shot in the face with an enormous stone, which forced itself into his nostril, leaving his beak grotesquely distended. His breathing was obstructed. The wound was swollen and likely infected. He must have been in absolute agony.

After 22 years of life - probably spent raising countless goslings, forming bonds with his flock, surviving disease, predators and all kinds of natural hazards - his life was abruptly ended for five minutes of fun. By a group of young people who offer nothing to their community but violence and cruelty.

What hurts even more is that Theodore trusted humans. In his long life, many had shown him kindness: both children and adults had fed him from their hands, locals had become so fond of him they gave him a name. That trust - gently built over years - was ultimately what led to his death. It was betrayed in the most callous way imaginable.

The government insists that current legislation around catapults and wildlife crime is adequate, that it "strikes the right balance.” That’s laughable. How can legislation be adequate when this keeps happening, over and over, in the same parks, the same culprits, with no consequences for them? When the culprits are boldly uploading videos of their offences on TikTok and Instagram?

At the moment this kind of cruelty is as good as legal.

Volunteers Chris and Robyn rushed to help Theodore and managed to get him to South Essex Wildlife Hospital - but he died in Chriss arms just as they arrived.

I’m sick of this. Sick of the suffering. I could say: sign a petition, write to your MP, contact your councillors. But I have said it a million times. I am so tired.

When will things change? When will these crimes be properly investigated? When will meaningful resources be allocated? When will we finally recognise that allowing children to roam the streets with weapons capable of blinding, maiming, and killing is a dangerous and shameful failure?