April 3, 2009
A bid to save a rare species of duck from extinction in the UK seem doomed after the last two males fell for each other.
Keepers at a West Sussex bird sanctuary hoped Cherry, Britain's last remaining female Blue Duck, might mate with either of the drakes, Ben or Jerry.
But neither male duck appeared interested and are now inseparable at the Arundel Wetland Centre, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Centre warden Paul Stevens said: "They stay together all the time, parading up and down their enclosure and whistling to each other as a male might do with a female he wants to mate with.
"People who visit the centre think they're a fantastic couple, without really coming around to the idea that they are two males."
Blue ducks originate from New Zealand but there were thought to be just three birds in the UK.
Keepers initially introduced Ben to Cherry, but neither seemed keen. They then brought Jerry down from a sanctuary in London.
Mr Stevens said: "Cherry showed some interest in him. She displayed typical mating behaviour - she approached him and called to him, she even looked like she was nesting. We thought it was great and it was all going to happen but nothing ever did."
Mr Stevens said the male ducks were then placed in the same enclosure: "To our surprise the two males really took to each other and it was obvious that they really liked each other.
"It would have been nice to get a last clutch of eggs from Cherry but Ben and Jerry do make a lovely couple."
