UK city ‘united in grief’ following death of beloved duck Long Boi

UK city ‘united in grief’ following death of beloved duck Long Boi who became internet sensation due to abnormally large neckThe University of York said it has been ‘forced to conclude’ Long Boi has diedThe duck arrived on campus in 2019 and went viral after a Reddit post By James Callery

Published: 12:05 EDT, 11 May 2023 | Updated: 22:25 EDT, 11 May 2023

The city of York is united in grief following the death of the beloved duck Long Boi, who became an internet sensation due to his abnormally large neck.

The University of York said it has been ‘forced to conclude’ that the mallard-Indian runner cross, which has been missing for two months, has died.

Long Boi arrived on campus in 2019 and went viral after a Reddit post incorrectly described him as ‘the tallest mallard duck to have ever lived… over 1m tall’.

It was later confirmed that he stood at around 70cm.

In a statement shared on its social media channels, the university paid tribute to the duck, adding that it hoped students would ‘focus on celebrating his life and commemorating the time he spent with us’.

Pictured: Long Boi. The University of York said it has been ‘forced to conclude’ that the duck, which has been missing for two months, has died

The statement said: ‘During his time on campus, Long Boi brought joy to staff, students, alumni and visitors to York.

‘Our beautiful campus and wonderful grounds team provided a rich life for him during the four years he lived with us.

‘We remain grateful for the incredible community of fans who have given their time, energy and skills to celebrating Long Boi and the abundance of wildlife found here on campus.’

A floral tribute and photo of the duck have been left on a bench at the university campus where he had become an icon to some students.

On Radio 1 Breakfast, Greg James led tributes to Long Boi and dedicated Wiz Khalifa’s song See You Again to the duck.

‘He lived a long life, Long Boi. And what a fantastic boy he was,’ he said, before announcing plans for a ceremonial ‘quack-a-long’ on Friday morning.

‘It’s not a minute’s silence, because that’s not what Long Boi would have wanted,’ he added.

Long Boi (pictured) arrived on campus in 2019 and went viral after a Reddit post incorrectly described him as ‘the tallest mallard duck to have ever lived… over 1m tall’

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust expressed its sorrow over the loss of the famous duck

Tributes flooded in for Long Boi, with some noting that the mood had changed in the city 

Social media users were quick to comment on the death of the famous duck.

One person wrote: ‘sombre atmosphere here in York today’.

Another posted: ‘The past tense being used in Longboi’s Wikipedia article is the saddest thing I’ve seen all week’.

A third added: ‘RIP Long Boi, hope the pastures are greener in heaven than they are in York’. 

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust posted: ‘RIP to the longest, and goodest, of ducks. A true campus legend’. 

A mallard-Indian runner cross, his age was never known and his origins remain a mystery

Tom Howes, 21, who had a tattoo of Long Boi in April while on a trip to Portugal with his university’s volleyball club, said that he is still holding out hope for the duck’s return.

He told the PA news agency: ‘I still think he’ll come back in four months or something. I’m an ecology student, so I know there are migratory patterns. He has probably gone off to find a mate and breed or he might have just got bored with the habitat.

‘The day his disappearance was announced was very ominous, it was like thunder and lightning on campus. I think people will come to terms with it though, today’s announcement gave some closure.’

The fame of the university’s unofficial mascot spread around the world and he was even mentioned on The Late Late Show by James Corden, who said: ‘Put a trench coat on that duck and he looks like two ducks trying to get into an R-rated movie’. 

The University of York Students’ Union said it is working to organise ‘a fitting tribute’ to the duck, with students asked to keep their eyes peeled for an official fundraising campaign.

Mr Howes added that he would like to see a statue of Long Boi erected to commemorate his time on campus.

He said: ‘He’s more of a symbol anyway. He was very easy to find. Most people viewed him as a mascot for the university, so not much is needed for him to be remembered. He will definitely live on.’

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