One duck stands out among the others at the University of York.
Long Boi, a mallard/Indian Runner duck hybrid, measures 70 centimeters (approximately 28 inches) tall, dwarfing his mallard friends, who grow to be around 24 inches long on average.
Long Boi’s origins are unknown, but the duck with perfect posture has become a campus celebrity.
Since 2019, he has had an Instagram account maintained by university students, as well as a line of items for fans who wish to express their support with a Long Boi T-shirt, mug, or sticker. According to one Instagram caption, the beautiful duck is usually “Feeling heckin’ löngthy.”
Just learned of the existence of Long boi, a comically long duck residing at the University of York, UK. Definitely the most exciting thing to hit campus since I spent my junior year abroad there! pic.twitter.com/rzvz3YISDH
— Mark Yarm (@markyarm) April 29, 2021
But his height isn’t the only thing that sets Long Boi apart from his duck friends.
“He is easy to spot due to his distinctive Indian Runner shape and size; long neck, tall posture, and characteristic run,” Natalia Kubala writes in a paper discussing Long Boi’s biological advantages. “Unlike most ducks that move around by waddling, as the name would suggest, the Indian Runners run. They take bigger steps meaning they can move a lot faster than some other species, which is called a ‘quickstep.’”
Since Long Boi is trending, here's me feeding him last term!#longboi pic.twitter.com/WUItKyIza9
— Chloe 💜 (@chloe_jane_w) April 29, 2021
Long Boi spends his days on campus hanging out with the other ducks, grazing by the lake, combing his feathers, resting in the shade, and munching on seeds thrown by students.
Long Boi became famous after a Twitter user claimed that he was the “tallest mallard duck to have ever lived,” at over 1 meter tall (3.5 feet). In actuality, he’s a typical Indian Runner duck, with a size range of 26 to 32 inches.
While this is an exaggeration, Long Boi deserves to be recognized for being a one-of-a-kind duck who has provided delight to kids for years.
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