Statue of campus duck Long Boi is damaged

A statue of a duck which became a university campus celebrity during its lifetime has been vandalised just weeks after being unveiled.

Radio 1 host Greg James visited the University of York in September and took part in a ceremony which paid tribute to Long Boi.

The 28" (70cm) Indian runner/mallard cross is thought to have died after the bird went missing from its home on the campus in 2022.

The university admitted the statue had "some damage" and student union activities officer Kaitlyn Beattie-Zarb said it was "disheartening".

The university has now launched an investigation into the incident.

Ms Beattie-Zarb added: “We’re incredibly disappointed this has happened as it was such a community effort to raise money and get the statue created in the first place.

“We have loved seeing students appreciating the statue but now they can’t as it has been damaged.

“It is just disheartening to see it damaged in a mean-spirited way.”

Students on campus also told BBC Radio York it was an “outrage” and “ridiculous that the statue could get damaged”.

A spokesperson for the University of York told the BBC the statue has been removed from its plinth while the “damage is assessed”.

They said: “We are aware of some damage to the Long Boi statue.

“The sculpture is a much-loved piece of artwork that brings joy and a sense of unity to the whole community here at the University of York.

“The statue has now been removed for safety reasons while the damage is assessed.”

The university previously said in a post on Instagram on Friday that “his welfare, and the safety of those visiting him is paramount, so making him secure is our priority”.

The post said: “We’ve taken steps to cordon him off for now as we assess the damage, and we’ll be doing all we can to fix him up as soon as possible.”

Long Boi lived in the grounds of the University of York between 2018 and 2022.

A statue of Long Boi was approved after more than £5,300 was raised for it, according to the University of York Students' Union.

During the unveiling, a "minute's quacking" was held by the hundreds of people in attendance, while a Long Boi-themed cover of Hot to Go, Chappell Roan's song, was performed by York student choir The Sing Song Society.

While they were performing, James threw miniature toy ducks into the audience.

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