Gosling ‘hit and run’ – Bird cyclist death

Published: 03 June 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

CAMPAIGNERS have called for greater protection for wildlife after a gosling was killed under the wheels of a suspected hit-and-run cyclist on the Regent’s Park canal towpath.

Sonja Curtis was walking along the canal with her neighbour when they spotted the dead baby bird lying on a grassy verge by the water. She had been looking for the family of swans – after spotting the group previously – and had grown concerned as they could only see two of the three goslings. 

Ms Curtis said: “Having seen them almost from day one I’ve really been enjoying watching them develop – and I just envisage seeing them one by one get killed until there aren’t any left and that would be such a shame.”

A fisherman she spoke to told her he had seen a cyclist run over the gosling just moments earlier and fail to stop. 

Ms Curtis said British Waterways, the canal landlord, should put up signs around where the families live, warning towpath users and in particular cyclists, to watch out for wildlife. The geese feed on grass and regularly clamber up the verge, she added. 

British Waterways said there is no speed limit in force for cyclists, but added that under a code of conduct they are expected to be considerate of other users of the towpath.