Heartbroken goose Davina gets a new start

A 'heartbroken' goose which had become a hazard after repeatedly wandering into the road has been rescued and given a new home.
Picture: Owen MillwardPicture: Owen Millward
Picture: Owen Millward

The goose, named Davina, had taken up home on a roundabout in Bishop’s Waltham with its mate David about two years ago.

But after David was killed in a suspected dog attack, Davina’s actions have become more erratic and she has begun frequently walking in the road, causing tailbacks and frustration for drivers.

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The bird was captured by Andy Rafferty, owner of Denmead Poultry, who will now look after it.

George Hollingbery, Conservative MP for Meon Valley, who helped organise the rescue, said: “This goose had become quite a hazard, suddenly nipping out into the road from the roundabout and it would have eventually been run over.

“I contacted the parish council and spoke to local district and county councillors and they have sprung into action and together we have found it a much safer home.”

Parish clerk Lindsay Edge said locals believed that Davina had begun behaving unpredictably, even pecking at car tyres, because she was “lonely”.

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She said: “In the last few weeks she’s become a bit of a terror, because she’s spending a lot of her time in the road between the roundabout and the pond, which means she’s causing traffic jams. She’s not very polite when it comes to cars, and she’s been pecking cars as they come around.”

Davina’s predicament has come to the attention of social media users and the goose now even has a Twitter account, @walthamgoose, attributed to it.

One of the latest posts states: “I wasn’t going down without a fight. Currently plotting my great escape. * bounces ball against wall of cell *”