Geese are stolen from park ‘to be cooked and eaten on Christmas Day’

Geese are being stolen from a park with locals fearing they are ‘being taken to eat’ on Christmas Day, a councillor has said.

Black Ash Park in Newport is well known for having scores of geese and ducks that visitors love to see and feed.

However, the popular birds are vanishing from the park amid concern the missing animals may be linked to upcoming Christmas dinners.

Around 250,000 geese are eaten every Christmas across Britain, with the average bird feeding six people according to the British Poultry Council. 

Locals online have responded to the disappearances, suggesting ‘migrants were to blame’ after historic concerns over eastern Europeans taking swans and carps from British waterways – though there is no evidence to support this theory. 

At least five geese, which are privately owned by a local, have disappeared this week.

Lliswerry Councillor Allan Morris told the South West Argus: ‘Over the last week I’ve been contacted by the owner, and he’s concerned that five of his geese have gone missing and people are taking them for food.

‘They’ve significantly reduced the numbers and it’s no coincidence that Christmas is coming up.’

Councillor Morris added in an online post: ‘Seriously it’s not funny.

‘If you see anyone harassing or trying to capture one of the geese or ducks, please challenge them or ring one of the ward councillors and we will notify the owner.

‘If you want a goose for your Christmas dinner, get one from a supermarket or traditional butchers.’

The Daily Mail has approached Newport Police for comment.

It comes as 70 butchered geese killed for their meat were found dumped in the countryside in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, on December 15.

West Norfolk Council have issued an urgent appeal for information following the discovery and said it suspected a link with Christmas.

A total of 31 greylag geese were found with strings around their necks and their breasts removed.

And 39 pink-footed geese were also discovered with their breasts removed on December 7 in Wisbech, Cambs.

Both groups were shot and left dumped at the side of roads.

Councillor Sandra Squire, Cabinet Member for Environment and Coastal, said: ‘These birds have clearly been killed for their meat but there has been no oversight of their slaughter and no assurance that they have not experienced undue suffering.

‘They have then been butchered but there has been no oversight of how the meat has been handled.

‘These birds could be diseased and the butchering may have been done in unsanitary conditions, making it unsafe for humans to eat.

‘As a final insult, they have been dumped at the side of the road, which is also illegal as fly-tipping, may attract vermin and creates a health hazard.

‘If anyone has any information about this at all please get in touch to help us put a stop to this behaviour.’

A council spokesperson added it would be reasonable to suspect the discovery and butchering was linked to the Christmas period.