Students at Cambridge have launched an impassioned appeal to protect geese which have taken up residence on the grounds of a historic college.
Members of King’s College – founded by Henry VI in 1441 – complained about a plan to cull the animals, which college authorities argue are unhygienic.
In a letter to officials considering killing off the new arrivals, they assert that geese have “intrinsic value” and “deserve a life free from suffering and human exploitation”.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the avian invaders showed up this winter on the scenic college’s riverside grounds, and have been fouling the walkways with their droppings.
Staff are determined to move the birds on – by force if necessary – because their excrement has made the paths slippery, and also carries disease.
However, students at King’s – known to be the most activist at Cambridge – drafted a petition to college authorities to try to stay their hand.
They wrote: “Geese experience pain, enjoy the benefits of a social lifestyle, and exhibit advanced intelligence in their ability to navigate vast distances on their migratory routes.”
They even argued that hurting the birds could damage the moral fabric of the nation. Their letter quoted famed pacifist Mahatma Gandhi, who said: “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
It is not yet clear whether their entreaty has been successful.
