Draft:Thomas (goose)
Sources:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Life
[edit]Thomas and Henry were together for 18 years before the swan Henrietta joined them.[10] This source says 24[11] Henry could not fly because he had an injured wing.[12]
When he died he was found under a willow branch.[12] Henry died in 2009 at the age of about 30.[11] Before this death, the three raised 68 cygnets,[10] out of 82 eggs that hatched from Henry and Henrietta, with Thomas helping to raise them.[12]
At some point the council decided to relocate some of the geese on the lagoons because they decided that there were too many. In order to prevent Thomas and Henry from being separated, a resident marked Thomas's feathers with red food dye.[12]
At some point Henrietta found another swan and left Thomas.[10]
A goose stole some of Thomas's offspring and raised them itself.[10]
For a few years before he was relocated he would be given breakfast by the people of a house at the edge of the lagoon. It included catfood, pieces of grain, duck pellets, corn, and an apple or a banana.[12] In 2013 he was moved to the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust after going blind and being attacked by swans. He remained there until his death.[10]
Lived on the Waimanu Lagoons in Waikanae Beach[12]
Death
[edit]Thomas died on 6 February 2018, at the age of "almost 40".[1] this source says 40. He had a funeral. The procession was led by a bagpiper.[10]
Described by BBC News as an "icon of the LGBT community".[1]
He was buried next to where where Henry was buried, next to the lagoon. In December, a plaque was unveiled near the lagoon, to commemorate Thomas. The unveiling was attended by about 50 people, including Kāpiti Coast mayor K Gurunathan, who spoke at the event, and Peta Mathias. The plaque says:[10]
Epitaph
1978–2018
Here lies Thomas, the great-hearted goose,
Nestled near Henry, in their final roost.
Here where they raised young and found sanctuary,
Somewhere above us, great souls fly free.
Gurunathan spoke at the funeral. Pinky Agnew recited poetry. There were speeches.[13]
Plaque unveiled in February apparantly[11]
Legacy
[edit]In August 2018 it was reported that a bronze sculpture of the three birds may be built. Mik Peryer, of Waikanae Bird Tour said that "Waikanae could even use the statue as a brand."[13]
In 2020 a children's book about the bird, titled Thomas: A True New Zealand Love Story, was published.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "New Zealand goose: How one blind bisexual bird became an icon". BBC News. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Thomas the blind, bisexual goose to be buried next to partner Henry the swan". Stuff. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Flamboyant Waikanae goose moves on". Kapiti Observer. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Henry's death ends a feathered threesome". The Dominion Post. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Birds of a feather: killer pukekos, robo-duck and a queer goose all at home with Wellington 'duckman'". Kapi Mana News. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Gay swan and goose who had a 30 year relationship could be immortalised in stone". Attitude. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "A Case For Modelling Your Life After This Bisexual Polyamorous Goose". Grazia. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "A coffin, a mayor, some bagpipes and poetry mark Thomas the bisexual blind goose's send off". PinkNews. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Blind, bisexual goose commemorated with plaque aside his swan lover". PinkNews. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "'The love story is over': Kāpiti's blind, bisexual goose commemorated". Stuff. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Thomas the bisexual goose laid to rest with full funeral and trimmings". Kapiti News. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Partnership of goose Thomas and swan Henry celebrated in book". Kapiti News. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Fly high forever: gay goose's inter-species love to be remembered with statue". Stuff. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.