Trevor the Duck: Niue mourns 'world's loneliest duck'

Authored by bbc.com and submitted by Blottomatic
image for Trevor the Duck: Niue mourns 'world's loneliest duck'

Image copyright Trevor the duck/Facebook Image caption Trevor passed away after being attacked by dogs

Trevor, once dubbed the world's loneliest duck, has died after being attacked by dogs on the remote Pacific island he called home.

Trevor was something of a local celebrity in the tiny nation of Niue for being the only bird of his kind living on the island.

He had arrived in 2018, but it's unclear how he got there.

He lived in a roadside puddle during his short life, where he was regularly fed and taken care of by locals.

"He showed up in Niue in January last year after a big storm, we think he flew or blew here," said Rae Findlay, Niue's Chamber of Commerce chief and the person behind Trevor's Facebook page.

"It's assumed he came from New Zealand but it's also possible he came from Tonga or another Pacific island.

"He was a mallard duck so we called him Trevor Mallard after a local New Zealand politician, and the name stuck."

During his short but happy life on Niue, Trevor lived in a large puddle.

"There are no rivers, streams or lakes here, so Trevor chose to live in a puddle," Ms Findlay told the BBC.

And though he has seen as the world's loneliest duck, it seemed he was anything but lonely.

Trevor's puddle was regularly checked on by concerned locals and even the island's fire brigade, who would fill it up if water levels got too low.

Image copyright Trevor the duck/facebook Image caption When Trevor's puddle would occasionally get too dry...

Image copyright Trevor the duck/Facebook Image caption ...the fire brigade would step in to top it up

"He regularly flew around to visit locals on their lawns and enjoyed the tasty treats they offered," said Ms Findlay. "He would be fed peas, corns and oats."

There were calls by some locals to bring in another duck as his mate, but Trevor's home was only big enough for one.

He did, however, become friends with a rooster, a chicken and a weka - a bird native to Niue - who all lived near the puddle.

"The rooster, chicken and veka were looking a little forlorn today wandering around the near dry puddle," said Ms Findlay.

"After a year driving around with a bag of oats in my car I will miss the stops on the way to and from work to feed Trevor. He captured many hearts and he will definitely be missed."

ophello on April 4th, 2019 at 00:03 UTC »

That sounds like a sad country song:

The loneliest duck

Was a critter named Trevor,

He spent all his days in a fog.

Arrived in a rainstorm,

Lived in a puddle,

Tragically killed by a dog.

dutchapplepoptart on April 3rd, 2019 at 23:51 UTC »

I used to work with a guy named Trevor. One day he placed a piece of opaque tape on the optical sensor of my mouse, and it took me several minutes to figure it out. He, too, was tragically killed by a dog. I've said too much

therespaintonthewall on April 3rd, 2019 at 23:13 UTC »

He did, however, become friends with a rooster, a chicken and a weka - a bird native to Niue - who all lived near the puddle. "The rooster, chicken and veka were looking a little forlorn today wandering around the near dry puddle," said Ms Findlay.He regularly flew around to visit locals on their lawns and enjoyed the tasty treats they offered," said Ms Findlay. "He would be fed peas, corns and oats."