Irish animal charities are asking parents not to buy baby ducks for their children

Just awful.

In the last 24 hours more and more animal charities across Ireland have posted the same urgent appeals regarding a new social media trend that poses dangerous to baby ducks. They are asking parents not to buy their children baby ducks that they see for sale on social media. Several posts advertising baby ducks for sale have appeared on different social media platforms including Snapchat and TikTok. Animal charities are warning parents not to buy as ducklings should never be separated from their parents and that the sellers should be reported. Animal charities across Ireland are becoming increasingly concerned as some adverts show several ducklings for sale in the one advert. Other distressing photos show that the ducklings being sold have broken legs. The charities are also concerned for the well being of the mother ducks as they never usually allow their ducklings to wander far and they may have been injured trying to protect their babies. Clondalkin Animal Aid posted this appeal last night;

"We’ve become aware of the new apparent trend amongst teenagers of getting a pet duckling..... Please please please do not allow your teenager to get a pet duck. They do not do well without other ducks and many people don’t understand their needs. The poor ducklings are being taken from their poor mothers too early and will not do well. The cruelty we’ve seen already is just awful. Can’t believe I’m even writing this."

  If your child approaches you about buying a baby duck that they have seen online please get in contact with your local animal welfare organisation. If your child has already bought a baby duckling from one of these postings then likewise please get in contact with your local animal aid charity as baby ducks struggle to survive away from their mothers.