Meet Long Boi, the big (but not the biggest) duck at the University of York

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Meet Long Boi. It is a duck and it is long. For so long, in fact, he’s been causing a stir on Twitter and amassing over 20,000 Instagram followers in awe of his longevity.

Long Boi, who lives on the York University campus in England, waddled on Twitter and Reddit this week when users claimed Long Boi was the largest mallard to ever live.

But Long Boi is not a full-fledged mallard. According to his Instagram, he is a cross between a mallard and an Indian runner, which is a larger species that can reach 2 feet 6 inches, according to the Audubon Company. Long Boi’s Instagram page says he is around 28 inches tall. So, while tall for a Mallard, Long Boi is of medium size compared to other Indian Runner ducks, according to Snopes.

“Despite claims that he is ‘the biggest duck to ever live’, he is actually just over 70 centimeters (about 27.5 inches), still quite tall compared to our other ducks,” said Zoe Duffin, one of the two biology students. who manages the duck’s Instagram account.

The huge duck has become something of a celebrity on the college campus and even has its own merchandise, including stickers, t-shirts, and water bottles. It was named the most popular waterfowl by Bantshire University. His fans upload photos and illustrations of him to his Instagram page. And the tweets about her are worth revisiting.

Long Boi was remembered on Twitter with some photoshopping in classic paintings and others put it in trench coats. Twitter users asked him to join the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team, declared him king, and questioned its origins.

“He really is a superstar,” Duffin said.

Duffin told USA Today that Long Boi appeared near the dorms a few years ago and may have been abandoned as an “unwanted animal.” When they first found him, he “looked very lonely and nervous as he didn’t fit in with the other ducks at first and seemed to be a little intimidated by them,” she said.

Duffin started feeding Long Boi daily and posting photos of him on the Instagram page. And now the duck has blossomed, Duffin said.

“He’s not scared anymore and has integrated into all of our ducks and geese,” she said. “He has moved to a larger section of the lake with a lot of other birds, where he seems very happy. He is very friendly and will come and say hello in exchange for some bird seeds. “

The Instagram account even spotted the “romantic Boi taking his Valentine’s Day for a walk by the lake” in February. Other notable friends of Long Boi include the smaller Indian male duck, Chonky Boi; a pair of female mallards; and a male mandarin duck nicknamed Fancy Boi.

Long Boi isn’t the first viral duck to take the internet by storm. Before him there was the Hot Duck of Central Park, the Goth Duck living in sewage, and the virtuoso Drummer Duck.

“Long boi is incredibly appreciated by the staff and students here in York,” said Duffin. “The students are always very excited to see him, to feed him and to be able to take a picture of him. He’s a true top player on campus… he’s truly an iconic part of student life here in York. I think everyone is really proud. Long boi and its new fame. ”

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