Man Confronted After Allegedly Breaking Goose's Neck in UK Park; Police Investigate

Police are investigating a report of animal cruelty at Ward End Park in Birmingham on October 19 after a video surfaced online showing a man being confronted by bystanders following an incident involving a goose. The clip depicts a man holding a box, which witnesses stated contained bread intended to lure geese.

The person filming the video can be heard saying, "He's feeding ducks [sic] and he has just killed one. He's just broken the duck's neck [sic]." The footage then shows the goose slumped on the ground, twitching.

West Midlands Police confirmed they are examining the video as part of their inquiry. A spokesperson stated, "We received a report of animal cruelty at Ward End Park in Birmingham on 19 October and are making enquiries to establish the circumstances around what happened. Officers are working with partners including the park's management and the local authority and are looking to speak to anyone who might have seen what happened and might know who was responsible."

Social media users expressed outrage, with some claiming that community officers had previously warned the man about similar behavior. Animal rights activists noted that the luring technique allegedly used in the video is sometimes employed by farm poachers but is rarely seen used openly in daylight. Animal cruelty investigator Joey Alexander described the alleged act as "shocking and callous," suggesting the bird was likely conscious while suffering. He added that the individual in the clip appeared "disturbed" and lacked "normal human emotion."

Reports of cruelty involving wild birds reached a five-year peak in the summer of 2025, according to the RSPCA. During July and August 2025, 359 incidents involving wild birds were reported nationwide, with 26 in the West Midlands alone. The RSPCA stated that 2026 was shaping up to be similarly concerning, with 474 reports by July. Pigeons, corvids, gulls, swans, and ducks are among the most frequently targeted birds, often through deliberate acts of violence including the use of catapults and air weapons.

The RSPCA urged anyone with firsthand information about the incident to contact them, reminding the public that all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to deliberately kill, injure, or take one without a license.

Alexander also commented on the perceived leniency of penalties for animal cruelty, suggesting that more severe consequences might deter offenders. The current maximum sentence for animal cruelty in the UK is five years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both. He called the incident "a brazen act that really highlights the fact that laws protecting animals in this country are not strong enough."

The incident follows a separate event reported days earlier, where two men were filmed stealing a pet rabbit from a home in Hull, East Yorkshire. The owners reported that the men were heard speaking Russian and potentially discussing making the rabbit into a kebab. The rabbit was later found unharmed in a car park.