See this duck? This duck is sadly dead, but it is more popular than you.

You read that right, you are literally less popular than a dead duck.

Hang on – we’ll explain.

This duck is called Desmond Drake, had been living in a pond in Compton Martin, Somerset, for 25 years, and was killed by a fox this week.


He was known for bullying other drakes – males ducks – over his female partners, and was, at the end of his life, the only drake left in the pond.

The owner of the pond, Andrew Griffiths, told the Bristol Post:

‘He will be sadly missed, both for his propensity to consume stale bread and cake, along with his ability to toss upstart young moorhens all over the place. […] He was a very long serving duck and member of the community. […] He became family, he became a village icon. There was even a little society, the blood of the duck, and we would drink whiskey with a duck egg in.”



The villagers have decided to hold a wake in Desmond’s memory, and will lower the church flag at half mast for the occasion.

Do you think your hometown would put its flag at half mast if you died?

Admit it, it’s unlikely.

So here’s to you, Desmond Drake. A mighty fine though perhaps a bit sexually intense duck.

We won’t forget you.