Jesse New to rehome domestic geese from Lake Alford in Gympie

Dumped geese … and a stray domestic duck that ‘thinks it’s a goose’ are being removed from a popular regional Queensland park but this eviction has a happy ending.

Lake Alford in Gympie is famously home to a range of wild birds including swans and ducks, but according to one resident, geese do not fit the bill.

Jesse New said the pilgrim geese that could be found at the lake were “domesticated” and dumped there at different times over the last few years.

Concerned for the happiness and safety of the geese, Mr New said he had been approved by the Gympie Regional Council to remove the geese from the lake and rehome them.

The domestic geese that will soon be removed from Lake Alford and given the correct treatment at Mr New’s property.

“I realise they look pretty down there but they aren't supposed to be there, they’re supposed to be at a home where they’re loved and cared for,” Mr New said.

“All of the geese that are currently there have been dumped by someone of the public because they either didn’t want them or because they thought it was a better home for them but it’s not.”

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Mr New said while the geese could easily survive in the wild, they would not thrive in an environment where there was a risk of being hit by cars, attacked by dogs or chased by children.

The six geese and one domestic duck that “thinks it’s a goose and has been raised by a goose” will be taken to Mr New’s property where he already cares for geese.

“Geese are territorial and can cause stress and damage to the native birds nesting in the area,” he said.

“I have also called RSPCA and there aware of what I’m wanting to do and think it’s in the best interest of the geese, they said they would assist but do not have the resources to do so.”

Mr New said he was also concerned for the health of the geese as they are given a high volume of bread by visitors who don’t know any better.

The domestic geese that will soon be removed from Lake Alford and given the correct treatment at Mr New’s property.

“This is detrimental to their long term health and wellbeing,” he said.

“They need more signs at the pond about bread and what they should actually feed them.”

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Mr New believes it’s not just these seven birds that are domesticated at the lake and said the dumping needs to stop.

“90 per cent of the birds there have been dumped there are domestic birds, it does need to stop,” he said.

“If I had room for every dumped animal there I would … if someone else wants assistance catching others to rehome I’m more than happy to do so.”

The domestic geese that will soon be removed from Lake Alford and given the correct treatment at Mr New’s property.