GEORGE NEWS - Ptolemy, the young one-winged Egyptian goose that has made a smallholding in Blanco its permanent home, needs a mate of its own kind.

Ptolemy was the only one of four chicks to survive a fall from a palm tree on the smallholding early this year. Co-owner Allan Oates made sure that it was nurtured and fed until it was big enough to join a flock of Chinese geese he keeps.

Ptolemy survived another setback when he flew into a fence as he was learning to fly. His right wing was badly injured and had to be amputated, but he made it through the ordeal and adapted well to his one-winged life.

"He has been living quite contentedly on the smallholding, but I think that he would be happier if he had a partner of his own kind. He hangs around with the other geese, but it is like you hanging out with a group of Germans when you do not speak German. So I thought it would be nice if we could have a mate for him that is at least the same kind," says Oates.

He says the partner would also have to be disabled in some way, or else it will fly away. "I am not going to put it in a cage. Then they can chill out together and live together. I think it would be nicer for the bird."

Oates initially guessed that Ptolemy was a female because of its tail plumage, but he says now that it is a bit older, he thinks it could be a male. "There is nothing obvious in the colours of Egyptian geese that indicates gender. It is more the way they are built. Males have a thicker neck."

He says male or female, Ptolemy would be better off with a friend.

If someone out there has an Egyptian goose that cannot fly and will also appreciate the company of its own kind in a good and safe home, contact Oates on email.

Ptolemy (back) has adapted well to his one-winged life.

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