Long Boi
{{Short description|Tall Indian Runner duck}}
{{about|the Indian Runner duck|American Jazz musician|Charlie Green (musician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = Long Boi
| image = Long Boi (geograph 6938927).jpg
| caption = Long Boi by Heslington Fish Pond in 2021
| hatch_date = before 2018
| death_date = {{circa|April 2023}}
| death_place = York, United Kingdom
| othername = Longboi
| species = Domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)
| breed = Indian Runner duck–Mallard cross
| gender = Male
| years_active =
| known_for = Tallness, memes, popular culture, media appearances
| residence = Derwent College, University of York
| height = around {{convert|70|cm|ftin}}
|website=https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/long-boi/}}
Long Boi (before 2018{{snd}}April 2023) was an unusually tall male duck that lived by Derwent College, University of York, England. He was thought to be an Indian Runner duck-Mallard cross, standing out among the other ducks on the campus due to his height. He went viral and became an internet meme in 2021. His popularity saw him become an unofficial mascot for the university.{{cite instagram |user=longboiyork |postid=CryUCV9ou1c |title=Dear followers, fans and friends of Long Boi |date=3 May 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Barton |first=Andrew |date=1 August 2023 |title=Long Boi: £5.5k raised for statue of missing University of York duck |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-66370400 |access-date=7 August 2023}} At least one commentator has branded him 'Britain's most famous duck'.{{cite web |last=Harvey |first=James |date=11 May 2023 |title=In memory of Long Boi - Britain's most famous duck |url=https://whynow.co.uk/read/britains-most-famous-duck |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=WhyNow}}
In May 2023, Long Boi was presumed dead, having not been seen on campus for several weeks. A memorial service for Long Boi was held on 26 September 2024, which was presided over by Greg James and broadcast live on BBC Radio 1, and culminated with the unveiling of a bronze statue of Long Boi.{{cite news |last1=Bryson |first1=Julia |last2=Russell |first2=Rachel |title=Long Boi: Statue of missing York duck unveiled live on BBC Radio 1 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4q14w34weo |access-date=26 September 2024 |work=www.bbc.com |publisher=BBC |date=26 September 2024}}
Biography
Little is known about Long Boi's origins, although it is believed that he was left on the University of York campus as an unwanted pet.{{cite news |title=Tall duck becomes social media sensation |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56993465 |access-date=9 December 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209133838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56993465 |url-status=live }} Students fed him to help him to settle into his new home, noting that he didn't seem to fit in with the other ducks at first.{{cite web |last=Fernando |first=Christine |title=Meet Long Boi, a big (but not the biggest) duck that's become a 'superstar' at the University of York |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/05/01/long-boi-university-yorks-big-but-not-biggest-duck/4903746001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209223830/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/05/01/long-boi-university-yorks-big-but-not-biggest-duck/4903746001/ |archive-date=9 December 2022 |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=USA Today}}
Long Boi spent most of his time on and around Heslington Fish Pond next to Derwent College,{{Cite news |last=Al-Mahdawie |first=Sara |date=November 2023 |title=RIP Long Boi |pages=18 |work=The Derwenter}} where he eventually integrated with the other campus waterfowl. His friends included a smaller male Indian runner duck called Chonky Boi, some female mallards, and a male mandarin duck called Fancy Boi.
Rise to popularity
Long Boi has become a University of York campus celebrity and informal mascot, often mentioned in welcome talks and graduation ceremonies.{{Cite web |title=Long Boi - About the University, University of York |url=https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/long-boi/ |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=www.york.ac.uk}} Long Boi fluffy toys have been presented to the university's graduates.{{cite web |date=13 July 2022 |title=PSA: Uni of York is selling mini Long Bois to all graduates next week |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/07/13/psa-uni-of-york-is-giving-out-mini-long-bois-for-all-graduates-next-week-28604 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209134905/https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/07/13/psa-uni-of-york-is-giving-out-mini-long-bois-for-all-graduates-next-week-28604 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |access-date=9 December 2022 |publisher=University of York}}
Long Boi became an internet sensation in 2021 following a Reddit post that incorrectly described him as the tallest mallard ever, at over 1m tall (in fact he was around 70cm tall, and not a true mallard duck).
Long Boi was subsequently mentioned by James Corden on his US late-night talk show The Late Late Show in April 2021, who showed an edited image of Long Boi dressed in a trench coat and quipped, "Put a trench coat on that duck and he looks like two ducks trying to get into an R-rated movie".{{cite web |last=Laycock |first=Mike |date=1 May 2021 |title=WATCH: York duck Long Boi stars on The Late Late Show with James Corden |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19273899.york-duck-long-boi-appears-james-cordens-us-tv-show/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=York Press |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209133838/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19273899.york-duck-long-boi-appears-james-cordens-us-tv-show/ |url-status=live }} Followers of Long Boi's Instagram account, run by University of York biology student Zoe Duffin, increased to 16,300 people in less than 24 hours. Footballer Peter Crouch, who is {{height|ft=6|in=7}}, shared his appreciation of Long Boi, tweeting "That's my kind of duck!".{{cite web |last1=Chudy |first1=Emily |last2=Elliott-Gibbs |first2=Sam |date=30 April 2021 |title=Huge duck Long Boi has own Instagram account and is loved by Peter Crouch |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/huge-duck-called-long-boi-24015166 |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=Mirror |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209133844/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/huge-duck-called-long-boi-24015166 |url-status=live }}
In 2022 Long Boi was mentioned by Greg James on BBC Radio 1 who hoped to do a show with Long Boi.{{cite web |date=6 December 2022 |title=Uni of York is campaigning for Long Boi to go on BBC Radio 1 and it's iconic |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/12/06/uni-of-york-is-campaigning-for-long-boi-to-go-on-bbc-radio-1-and-its-iconic-29560 |access-date=9 December 2022 |publisher=University of York |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209133838/https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/12/06/uni-of-york-is-campaigning-for-long-boi-to-go-on-bbc-radio-1-and-its-iconic-29560 |url-status=live }} After some planning and with help from the university's social media team and the University of York Students' Union, this was able to happen in March 2023 where he was able to 'quack' on the show.{{cite web |last=Beattie-Zarb |first=Kaitlyn |date=3 May 2023 |title=BREAKING NEWS: Long Boi Missing |url=https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/news/breaking-news-long-boi-missing/03/05/2023 |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=York Vision |archive-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503110610/https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/news/breaking-news-long-boi-missing/03/05/2023 }}{{cite instagram |user=uniofyork |postid=Cpfz_v_NFdv |title='Anything for Long Boi' is our new life motto 🦆|date=7 March 2023}}
Long Boi has been the subject of April Fools jokes by The Tab, claiming that the university planned to feature Long Boi on its new logo and that Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffery had awarded him an Honorary Doctorate, calling him the "perfect ambassador" for the university.{{cite web |date=31 March 2022 |title=Uni of York logo is officially changing to have Long Boi in it |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/03/31/uni-of-york-logo-is-officially-changing-its-logo-to-have-long-boi-in-it-27951 |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=The Tab |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209134904/https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/03/31/uni-of-york-logo-is-officially-changing-its-logo-to-have-long-boi-in-it-27951 |url-status=live }} At the university he inspired the Long Boi Society, a student society centred on an interest in waterfowl and on Long Boi himself.{{cite web |title=Long Boi Society |url=https://yusu.org/activities/view/long-boi-society |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=University of York Students' Union |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209142558/https://yusu.org/activities/view/long-boi-society }}
In April 2023, third-year Environment, Economics and Ecology student Tom Howes received a tattoo of Long Boi while on a university volleyball tour in Portugal. The tattoo made national news and added to Long Boi's virality.{{cite web |date=5 June 2022 |title=A York student has just got a Long Boi tattoo and I'm very jealous |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/06/05/a-york-student-has-just-got-a-long-boi-tattoo-and-im-very-jealous-28439 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=University of York |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409213150/https://thetab.com/uk/york/2022/06/05/a-york-student-has-just-got-a-long-boi-tattoo-and-im-very-jealous-28439 |url-status=live }}
Disappearance
In early May 2023, students and staff at the university raised concerns that Long Boi seemed to have gone missing from campus; The Tab reported that he had not been sighted since 22 April, whilst a post on Long Boi's Instagram page claimed the last known sighting was "sometime around mid-March."{{cite web |last=Dale |first=Tim |date=3 May 2023 |title=University of York's tall duck Long Boi is missing |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65475386 |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504000328/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65475386 }}{{Cite web |title=Long boi (@longboiyork) - Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CryUCV9ou1c/?hl=en |access-date=27 September 2024 |website=www.instagram.com}} A spokesperson for the university told the York Vision: "Long Boi is a much-loved character on campus and whilst we haven't seen him around over the past few weeks, we continue to keep a lookout for him and hope to see him again, safe and well, soon."
Considering Long Boi's popularity and importance to the university, the Ground and Estates team reportedly searched the campus while also reminding students that, as a wild animal, he may simply have left the university grounds. The main speculation was that Long Boi was a victim of a recent fox attack,{{cite web |last=McAndrew |first=Orla |date=2 May 2023 |title=Confirmed: Long Boi missing |url=https://nouse.co.uk/2023/05/02/confirmed-long-boi-missing |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=Nouse |archive-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503000125/https://nouse.co.uk/2023/05/02/confirmed-long-boi-missing }} while rumours spread that he had died but the university's student union had postponed reporting his death due to York's defeat in the 2023 Roses Tournament.{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Emily |date=1 May 2023 |title=York students express concern for Long Boi as rumours spread about his wellbeing |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2023/05/01/york-students-express-concern-for-long-boi-as-rumours-spread-about-his-wellbeing-31397 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502012756/https://thetab.com/uk/york/2023/05/01/york-students-express-concern-for-long-boi-as-rumours-spread-about-his-wellbeing-31397 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=The Tab}} A duck expert also highlighted that, considering the time of year, it was possible that Long Boi had temporarily left the grounds of the university in order to find a mate.{{cite instagram|user=bbcyorkshire|postid=Cr08wmhoU2o|title=Have you seen him? 🦆|date=4 May 2023}} A 3 May 2023 post from Long Boi's Instagram account said that there is "a strong possibility that Long Boi may have passed away."
The Daily Telegraph reported that there were calls among students for a statue of Long Boi to be erected in light of his disappearance.{{cite web |last=Somerville |first=Ewan |date=4 May 2023 |title='Long Boi' the celebrity duck vanishes |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/04/long-boi-university-of-york-duck-missing-feared-dead/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=The Telegraph |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509144247/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/04/long-boi-university-of-york-duck-missing-feared-dead/ }} This was not the first time that this idea had been suggested, with a suggestion on YUSUggestions from 2022 campaigning for this. Two consecutive YUSU presidents supported the idea in principle but raised concerns over how financially viable the idea was and proposed a crowdfunding campaign.{{cite web |date=4 March 2022 |title=Erect a statue of Longboi on campus |url=https://yusu.org/suggestions/view/120 |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=University of York Students' Union |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509144251/https://yusu.org/suggestions/view/120 |url-status=live }}
On 11 May 2023, the University of York concluded that Long Boi had died. He had not been seen on campus for nearly two months.{{cite web |date=11 May 2023 |title=Long Boi: Missing University of York duck presumed dead |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65555546 |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=11 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511102827/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65555546 |url-status=live }}
In May 2024 a post on a university confessions page claimed that Long Boi had been killed by a member of the Lancaster University men's hockey team who were at York for the 2023 Roses Tournament. Members of the team were quick to debunk it, while other students questioned how realistic it was, notably the claim that the confessor found loose bricks around the campus. This seemed unlikely, given the absence of bricks around Derwent Common.{{Cite web |last=Rolfe |first=Jess |date=23 May 2024 |title=Erm, a Lancaster student has confessed to killing Long Boi but the uni has said otherwise |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2024/05/23/erm-a-lancaster-student-has-confessed-to-killing-long-boi-but-the-uni-has-said-otherwise-36815 |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=University of York}}
Legacy
In August 2023 the Long Boi Society was put up for adoption, meaning that it had been unable to have a full committee when reratifying with YUSU.{{cite web |title=Long Boi Society |url=https://yusu.org/activities/adopt/long-boi-society |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=University of York Students' Union}}
In September 2023, the Department of Biology launched its "Long Boiology {{sic}} Art Trail", celebrating art, science and education in the Biosciences at York through the medium of Indian Runner duck silhouettes decorated by staff and students attached to various locations on West Campus.{{Cite web |title=Who was Long Boi? |url=https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/long-boi/ |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=University of York}}{{Cite web |title=Long Boiology: the Biology Art Trail |url=https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/biology-art-trail/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=University of York |language=en}}
Jeremy Corbyn expressed his condolences to the student community, stating “If an appropriate memorial appears I will wish to visit it…I would happily take a selfie with him.”{{Cite web |last=Beattie-Zarb |first=Kaitlyn |last2=Shaw |first2=Eleanor |date=13 December 2023 |title=Jeremy Corbyn Takes the Stage at the University of York |url=https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/?p=135432 |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=York Vision}}
The official merchandise for the 2024 BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend featured Long Boi.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Heidi |date=28 May 2024 |title=BBC Radio 1 has released official Long Boi merch, designed by Greg James |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2024/05/28/bbc-radio-1-has-released-official-long-boi-merch-designed-by-greg-james-36797 |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=The Tab}}
In autumn 2024, in tribute to Long Boi, the ghost "Long Duck" was added to the York Museum Gardens as part of the York BID "Ghosts in the Gardens" project.{{Cite web |title=Ghosts In The Gardens |url=https://www.theyorkbid.com/ghosts-in-the-gardens/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124203229/https://www.theyorkbid.com/ghosts-in-the-gardens/ |archive-date=24 November 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024 |website=The York BID}}
= Statue =
The University of York reported on 11 May 2023 that YUSU was working on plans to organise a fitting tribute to Long Boi.{{cite instagram |postid=CsGBn4qscbO |user=uniofyork |title=Following a period of almost two months without a confirmed sighting of Long Boi, we are today forced to conclude that he has passed away. |date=11 May 2023}} On 15 May the YUSU president, Pierrick Roger, announced plans to erect a to-scale memorial to Long Boi.{{cite instagram |postid=CsRHD49IETU |user=yusupresident |title=🦆 HELP US REMEMBER OUR BOI 🦆 |date=15 May 2023}} If £1,000–£2,000 was raised, a bench with a plaque to Long Boi would be constructed. If more than £2,000 was raised, a statue would be installed. Any excess donations would be donated to a 'Travel Abroad Award' as a York Futures Scholarship named after Long Boi.{{cite web |last=Pierrick |first=Roger |date=15 May 2023 |title=A Memorial for our beloved Long Boi |url=https://yustart.hubbub.net/p/long-boi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515165719/https://yustart.hubbub.net/p/long-boi/supporters/ |archive-date=15 May 2023 |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=York Unlimited}}
The £1,000 target was surpassed within a day, and the £2,000 target was reached by 17 May 2023.{{cite web |last=Pierrick |first=Roger |title=A Memorial for our beloved Long Boi |url=https://yustart.hubbub.net/p/long-boi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516153421/https://yustart.hubbub.net/p/long-boi/ |archive-date=16 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=York Unlimited}}{{cite web |last=Pierrick |first=Roger |title=A Memorial for our beloved Long Boi |url=https://yustart.hubbub.net/p/long-boi/pitch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517153418/https://yustart.hubbub.net/p/long-boi/pitch/ |archive-date=17 May 2023 |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=York Unlimited}} Ultimately, £5,500 was raised, and the plan was to for the statue to be made of bronze (although ceramic and silver was suggested), and placed on Derwent Common.
In December 2023 the wildlife sculptor Neil R. Mason was chosen as the artist to complete the sculpture.{{Cite web |last=McAndrew |first=Orla |date=3 December 2023 |title=Long Boi Memorial Artist Announced |url=https://www.nouse.co.uk/articles/2023/12/03/long-boi-memorial-artist-announced |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Nouse}}
With an absence of updates, and considering the context of the serious financial situation students were in when the money was raised, some students raised concerns that the funds were not being used to build the statue as promised, and even that Pierrick Rogers had absconded with them.{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Matt |date=7 March 2024 |title=£5,347 Cash Found in a Hole Underneath YUSU Offices |work=The Lemon Press |pages=5}} The design for the sculpture was revealed in May 2024, with the clay moulds being sent to Greece to be cast in bronze.{{cite news |date=17 May 2024 |title=Long Boi: Uni of York duck sculpture designs revealed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1eje12n0yxo |accessdate=17 May 2024 |work=BBC News}}
On 26 September 2024, the finished statue was revealed in ceremony led by Greg James and broadcast on BBC Radio 1.{{cite news |last1=Gouldsbrough |first1=Patrick |date=26 September 2024 |title=Memorial event takes place for viral duck 'Longboi' as BBC's Greg James pays tribute |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24611514.memorial-event-longboi-university-york/ |access-date=26 September 2024 |work=The Northern Echo |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |language=en}} The ceremony, held in the university's Central Hall and supported by York SU Technical Theatre Society (TechSoc), was attended by hundreds of people and included short remarks by Vice Chancellor Charlie Jeffery, a minute of quacking, and musical performances of Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again" by organist Anna Lapwood and Chappell Roan's "Hot to Go!" by the university's Sing Song Society.
In November 2024 the statue was removed by the university after significant damage to its right leg.{{cite web|url=https://thetab.com/2024/11/17/university-of-york-removes-long-boi-statue-from-campus-following-suspected-vandalism|title=University of York removes Long Boi statue from campus following suspected vandalism|first=Madeleine|last=Oliver|date=17 November 2024|website=The Tab|accessdate=18 November 2024}}
See also
References
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{{University of York}}
Category:Individual animals in the United Kingdom
Category:Culture of the University of York
Category:Internet memes introduced in 2021