Thomas (goose)

Thomas (died 2018) was a goose who lived at the Waimanu Lagoons in Waikanae Beach, in the Kāpiti Coast District of New Zealand's North Island. He was bisexual and had a polyamorous relationship with a male black-feathered swan Henry since about 1990 and a female swan Henrietta starting about 18 or 24 years after the relationship with Henry began. Thomas, who did not father any goslings until 2011, helped raise the cygnets of Henry and Henrietta. Because Henry had a broken wing, Thomas would teach the cygnets how to fly.

Henry died in 2009 and Henrietta soon flew away with another swan, leaving Thomas alone. Thomas later met a female goose and had his own offspring for the first time in 2011, although they were stolen by another goose. After going blind and getting attacked by other geese, he was moved in 2013 to the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust in Ohariu, and stayed there until his death in 2018. A plaque was placed at the lagoon to remember him and he was described by BBC News as an "icon of the LGBT community".^[1]

The goose Thomas, who had white feathers,^[2] had lived at the Waimanu Lagoons in Waikanae Beach, in the Kāpiti Coast District of New Zealand's North Island.^[3] The black-feathered^[2] swan Henry (originally named Henrietta) appeared at the lagoons in about 1990.^[1][3] Henry and Thomas were in a relationship together for 18^[1][4] or 24 years^[2] or until c. 2003^[5] (sources vary) before another swan joined them. At first it was believed that Henry was a female (hence the name Henrietta), but the lack of offspring,^[6] and the fact that when the female swan appeared, she laid an egg, made it clear that Henry was a male.^[6][1] After his sex became apparant his name was changed from Henrietta to Henry, and the new female swan was named Henrietta. Thomas was not pleased that Henry had found a new mate, so he began attacking the two,^[1] which included breaking two of the five eggs that Henrietta had laid.^[7] But once the remaining eggs had hatched he became friendly and helped raise them.^[1] Henry could not fly because he had an injured wing,^[3] so Thomas helped teach the cygnets to fly.^[8] In 2004 the three birds were described by The Dominion Post as "star attractions on wildlife tours of the [Waikanae] estuary".^[9]

At some point the council decided to relocate some of the geese on the lagoons because they decided that there were too many. In order to prevent Thomas and Henry from being separated, a resident marked Thomas's feathers with red food dye.^[3] Henry died in 2009 at the age of about 30.^[2] He had been found in a creek underneath a willow branch.^[3][5] The community planned on placing a black boulder at the lagoon to remember him.^[5] Before this Henry's death, the three raised 68 cygnets,^[4] out of 82 eggs that came from Henry and Henrietta.^[3] After Henry's death, Henrietta found another swan and flew away, leaving Thomas alone.^[4] He met a female goose in 2011 and became the father of goslings for the first time,^[10][1] although a goose named George stole them and raised them himself.^[4]

During Thomas's last few years at the lagoon he would be given breakfast by the people of a house at the edge of the lagoon. It included cat food, pieces of grain, duck pellets, corn, and an apple or a banana.^[3] In 2013 he had to have his stomach drained, started swimming in 'tight circles', was attacked by swans at the lagoon, and lost about 90 per cent of his vision^[10][4] after first going blind in one eye and then the other.^[1] So he was moved in 2013 to the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust in Ohariu, a suburb of Wellington.^[10][4] There he raised parentless cygnets.^[6] His carer described him as "pretty high maintenance" and would carry Thomas every morning from his aviary to a fenced pond.^[11] He remained under the care of the trust until his death.^[4]

Thomas died on 6 February 2018, at the age of about 40^[1] or 38 (sources vary).^[6] He had a funeral that included a small coffin^[12] and a procession that was led by a bagpiper.^[4] He was buried under the stone where Henry was buried, next to the lagoon.^[6][4] The funeral was attended by Kāpiti Coast District mayor K Gurunathan, who spoke at the event, and Pinky Agnew, who recited poetry.^[13] A plaque was unveiled during the ceremony^[2] which was unveiled again in December during a ceremony near the lagoon to commemorate him. The December unveiling was attended by about 50 people, including mayor Gurunathan, who spoke at the event, and Peta Mathias.^[4] Agnew wrote the epitaph:^[1][4]

Here lies Thomas, the great-hearted goose,

Nestled near Henry, in their final roost.

Here where they raised young and found sanctuary,

Somewhere above us, great souls fly free.

— Pinky Agnew

Upon Thomas's death, he was described by BBC News as an "icon of the LGBT community".^[1] In August 2018 it was reported that a bronze sculpture of the three birds may be built. Mik Peryer, of Waikanae Bird Tour said that "Waikanae could even use the statue as a brand."^[13] In 2020 a children's book about the bird titled Thomas: A True New Zealand Love Story was published.^[3]