Blind, bisexual goose commemorated with plaque aside his swan lover
Thomas the goose (left) and Henry the swan. (Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust)
A commemorative plaque has been set up to immortalise the greater love story ever—between Thomas the bisexual goose and his partner of nearly 30 years, Henry the bisexual swan.
The memorial plaque was set up next to Thomas the goose’s resting place, reports New Zealand’s news outlet Stuff.
Thomas died earlier this year and was buried beside his gay-lover, Henry the swan, who passed away in 2009.
A celebratory funeral was held for Thomas in February 2018, including bagpipes and poetry.
About 60 people turned out for the funeral, including the Mayor of Waimanu Lagoon and a priest who carried out the ceremony.
Bisexual goose gets plaque next to swan lover
The plaque’s message was written by author and social commentator Pinky Agnew. It was unveiled at an informal ceremony last week.
“Here lies Thomas, the great-hearted goose, nestled near Henry, in their final roost,” the epitaph reads.
“Here where they raised young and found sanctuary, somewhere above us, great souls fly free.”
“Here lies Thomas, the great-hearted goose, nestled near Henry, in their final roost.”
—Pinky Agnew’s message on the funeral plaque
Kāpiti Coast Mayor K Gurunathan spoke at the event, honouring Thomas’ incredible life story.
“It’s made Thomas the goose the feather ambassador for inclusiveness and kindness,” Gurunathan said, quoted in Stuff.
The lovable bisexual goose was known to be a loner in his home at the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust on New Zealand’s North Island, before Henry arrived in the sanctuary in the 1980s and stole his heart.
Henry, Thomas and Henrietta as a thruple. (Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust)
The two soon became a couple, staying together for about 18 years before Thomas the bisexual goose was left heartbroken when Henry the bisexual swan left him for a female swan, Henrietta.
He was said to cry out for his boyfriend in the enclosure.
Thomas the blind, bisexual goose and Henry the bisexual Swan raise hatchlings in thruple with Henrietta
However, Thomas pulled it together and quickly joined Henry and Henrietta to make a thruple to raise the couple’s 68 hatchlings as one.
The zoo boasted several heartwarming pictures of the triumvirate with their young, remarking that the threesome were inseparable.
The goose did go on to father babies with a female goose, but these were stolen by another goose, called George, who raised them instead.
In August, it was reported that a trio of life-sized bronze statues could be made by local artist Eileen Thomas to remember the thruple’s relationship, provided around £40,000 is raised to fund the project.
