Hedgehog and Duck

So apparently there is a hedgehog who doesn't have any spine left, likely due to some skin illness. The consequence is that he looks like a small potato (hence the name "Spud" probably) and is more or less defenseless against cold weather or predators. But Spud is definitely the luckiest spineless hedgehog in the world, for someone found him in the garden and sent him to a wildlife hospital - last August. The caring staff in the hospital, while patiently waiting for his spines to grow back if possible at all, regularly bathed and massaged Spud in addition to provide food and lodge. Under the posted news, I even saw a comment from Australia saying "if nobody wants him, he can live with me." You know I'm almost jealous of the little Spud, for I feel like a spineless hedgehog left in the wild...

link to the Spud story


OK and the duck. Her name is Essy. The extraordinary thing about Essy is that she doesn't think of herself as a duck. Instead, she behaves as if she is God spelled backwards - a dog. She acts like one, and she hangs out with others. Lucky for this confused duck, her current owners, or care-takers, along with their two real dogs, love her unconditionally no matter who she thinks she is. Essy actually takes a lead in their daily stroll, and the two dog companions not only slow down to a pace with which she can catch up, but also walk on either side of her like two body guards. How cool is that! And yes they, mostly Essy, get a lot of attention in those little parades.

link to the Duck story

Having expressed my jealousy, I hereby claim that I do realize the cruelty of life with which most wild animals, as well as some raised by human, live.

月本无今古，情缘自浅深

这是一个爱情故事。当然，世界从来就不缺少爱情故事。这个爱情故事的特别之处之一在于，主角不是人，是鸭子。其中涉及的鸭物有三个，比较典型的三角关系，就是A对B有点意思，但是B对A没有感觉，和C相互喜欢，三个箭头就能画清楚了。

不过三个主角并不是普通的鸭子，而是－蓝鸭（blue duck）。蓝鸭只出产于新西兰，生活在水流湍急的山溪边，蛮有诗意的吧。现在由于伟大人类的搅合，蓝鸭成了濒危动物，还是就老家的情况而言。所以，我们就能想像，那些独自在外面奋斗的蓝鸭，该有多么珍贵了。比如，在整个英国，一共只有三只蓝鸭，偏偏又都是鸭中龙凤，品貌超群。这三只蓝鸭，就是我们的主角。

主角们的身世注定不平凡。早在1985年，一个英国学者凭借一颗火热的心和三寸不烂之舌打动了新西兰野生动物服务中心的领导，讨到一批宝贵的蓝鸭蛋。二十四年后的今天，这批蛋的后代只剩下三个。

三只蓝鸭之中，有一只是母的，叫Cherry（樱桃），故事就是从她开始的。做为全英国唯一的母蓝鸭（并且是一只很有魅力的母蓝鸭），Cherry肩负着很沉重很崇高的使命－延续英国蓝鸭的血脉。Arundel Wetland动物保护所的鸭保姆们对Cherry寄予了多么大的希望呀！他们先把一只叫Jerry的公鸭介绍给Cherry（大家放心，这个血缘关系肯定是五代以外了），呃，其实是关在一起企图来个事实婚姻。几年过去了，事实是，。。。什么事实也没发生。Cherry没相中Jerry，Jerry也没相中Cherry。两只见面也不尴尬，和平共处。

于是，组织上把Jerry赶到隔壁，隆重推出另外一只公鸭Ben。这次Cherry有点感觉了，发出了“你可以追我”的信号。但是！Ben他装傻！不理会！大人们绝望之中又把Jerry给送回来。终于，爱情发生了！不消讲了，Ben和Jerry一见钟情，从此形影不离！比如，一起散步，一起吹着爱的口哨。全英国的人都从四面八方来看望他们。大家都说，他们很漂亮，很有性格。这就是缘分啊！保护所的大人不知道怎么起的名字，Ben & Jerry是美国一个冰淇淋的牌子呀，叫起来多么顺口，多么般配！

令人感到安慰的是，我们的Cherry，全英国唯一具备下蛋功能的蓝鸭，并没有因为大龄未婚而沮丧，天天该吃就吃该玩就玩。动物所的大人也没有逼着她继续相亲（当然也没有鸭选了）。所以，爱情故事的结局是喜剧的，相爱的鸭子获得彼此，剩下的一个获得自由！

有人说，Ben和Jerry的断背山断送了英国蓝鸭的未来，我不以为然。知道人家那么宝贵，早干吗去了？爱情不能勉强，缘分可遇不可求，本来就是这样，就应该是这样的。

原文链接 telegraph

BBC sausage-dog pony