Nature group protests French charity plastic duck race
Environmental activists in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie) have called for the cancellation of a 鈥渄uck race鈥� tombola that would see thousands of numbered, plastic bathtime-style toy ducks dropped into the Garonne river.
The - which is raising money for several causes including one for autistic children and another for disadvantaged families - plans to sell each plastic duck for 鈧�3.
In the style of a raffle or a tombola, each duck would then be numbered and released simultaneously into the river, to follow its current along a certain section of water.
The ducks that arrive first would win prizes for their buyers.
The event is scheduled for Sunday September 23. It is organised by that describes itself as a society to 鈥渋mprove the wellbeing of those around us鈥� and create 鈥渦seful action at a local level鈥�.
But a local nature association, Robins des Bois, the tombola is counter-productive, and will damage the river and surrounding environment.
In a statement, : 鈥淭his initiative is negative and contradictory. It is inviting people to throw plastic and rubbish into our rivers and waterways.鈥�
The group has Rotoract 鈥渟top the promotion of this farce鈥� and are asking the local Mairie to forbid this 鈥渁quatic tombola鈥�.
In their defence, the organisers of the Duck Race 鈥渁ll precautions have been taken to avoid 鈥榚scapes鈥� by the ducks鈥� and any 鈥渓ong term pollution鈥�.
They said: 鈥淭he ducks will be held in by floating barges that will allow them to float down the river without us losing a single one.鈥�
Further boats, along with nets, will be used after the event to pick up all the ducks and ensure that the river and its banks are clean, the organisers added.
It is not the first time that a Duck Race has taken place recently; in April this year, we reported on another one in Omer (Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France), which released 12,000 ducks into the Aa river, and raised money for multiple children鈥檚 charities.
