Opi the duck, from Cwmbran, was left limp after a mating session went wrong and could no longer waddle happily – but now gets about in a specially-made wheelchair
Disabled duck uses specially-made wheelchair
A duck “disabled from sex gone wrong” now gets about in a specially-made wheelchair.
Opi, a family pet from Cwmbran, was left unable to waddle happily after injuring his right leg during an unsuccessful attempt at mating. His owner, Emily Davies, 20, stepped in as a makeshift medic and created a contraption to help Opi move around more easily. Emily constructed a homemade wheelchair for her three-year-old duck, complete with a harness and lead, allowing his injured webbed foot to be raised off the ground.
Opi, who has been with Ms Davies since he was a duckling, is learning how to hop along and join her on days out to boating lakes and parks.
A sign attached to the back of the wheelchair reads: “I am not a toy. I am disabled. Please allow me some room.”
Opi, part of a diverse collection of pets including fellow ducks, dogs, conures (parrots) and a cat, has been described by Emily as “a very sassy, charismatic, and charming little duck”.
She told the South Wales Argus: “Opi hurt his leg while trying to mate with a female. They were both quite inexperienced.
“I didn’t see the incident but I did see the aftermath and he couldn’t get up or walk. She was a novice too and unfortunately passed away.”
Emily added that Opi “has good days and bad days” with his leg.
The family chose to construct a wheelchair to aid its mobility, inspired by similar devices used by dogs.
Emily said that while the pair are out and about she is often approached by people who check on the welfare of her pet.
She says that she tells them that it is all part of his recovery programme to help him walk again, by taking him to places like the boating lake, to town or to the park near their home.
She said that he seems to like it, and that he is not a typical duck, as he prefers human companionship over animals.
Opi’s road to recovery comes at a time when a pigeon wasn’t as lucky after colliding with a lad’s head on a rollercoaster going 60mph.
The Daily Star recently reported the tale of Logan James, 19, who was riding the Velocity ride at Flamingo Land when he came face-to-wing with the clumsy bird.
Logan, who was 13 at the time and had only been on the ride for 15 seconds when the hapless creature smashed into his noggin.
The rollercoaster boasts an acceleration of 0-60mph in 2.8, with a photograph showing the exact moment the unfortunate avian struck his head and exploded in a cloud of feathers.
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