Posted on: July 17, 2024, 09:45h.
Last updated on: July 17, 2024, 09:46h.
In our July 16 story on where all the Mirage relics will go, we neglected to mention the fate of George. Unbeknownst to us at the time, he’s a duck with a broken wing who lives in the volcano lagoon at The Mirage, which will soon be replaced by a giant, guitar-shaped hotel.
Krista Gifford, a Las Vegas resident and poker pro, noticed and named George while feeding ducks in the lagoon when the Strip went dark due to the pandemic shutdown.
“I couldn’t help but to feel like I wanted to help him,” she told KVVU-TV/Las Vegas.
Since then, Gifford claimed, she’s fed the flightless mallard every morning — including when F1 was in town and the lagoon was drained, stranding George while his friends were able to fly to wetter pastures.
If this scenario has a familiar ring, a yellow-billed loon was removed from the Bellagio fountains by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDW) in March.
But that bird wasn’t injured, just confused, and it was its rarity this far south that drew most of the media attention.
George’s plight had to be trumpeted first by local social media influencers. Last week, Jen from VegasStarfish posted this Instagram video, which earned 10,600 likes. This website was also set up to save George.
“With The Mirage closing, once the water is drained this time, George is in serious danger of dying,” the website claimed, adding that “despite Krista’s persistent efforts, including meeting with Joe Lupo, the president, they continue to operate under the mistaken belief that all the ducks can fly. I guess they think George has been faking it for attention all these years.”
This last claim drew the attention of Lupo himself. The Mirage’s president left a comment beneath VegasStarfish’s video, denying that he previously spoke to Gifford.
No Harm, No Fowl
“This story is not accurate,” Lupo wrote. “No one from this website has spoken to Mirage leadership to verify anything reported. The Mirage will ensure the ducks are safely moved, while adhering and communicating with NV. Dept of Wildlife and LV Animal Control.”
Lupo told KVVU that the pond will not be drained for some time, but before it is, that George would be moved to the Flamingo’s animal sanctuary.
That might not end up happening, however. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Lupo has called in an animal rescuer, who will take George to a vet first and then decide on the best course of action for him.
