HONK*

Honk and his mate were abandoned at a city park four years ago. During the pandemic film-maker Cheryl Allison would visit the park to avoid people during social distancing and lockdown and found Honk dodging cars, begging for food and looking for friends. He started following her around and it was clear that he was lonely and desperate for companionship. Cheryl started visiting him several times a week, spending hours developing the unusual friendship and speaking to neighbours to try and find out his story.

​Once she had discovered that he had been with a mate she started searching the area and found her remains on a nest up the creek. She had died and upon closer inspection was found to have a huge lump on the side of her neck and it was obvious she had swallowed a foreign object. Cheryl believes the reason Honk attached himself to her was that he was mourning.

​The decision was made to move Honk to Rogers Wildlife Sanctuary for his own safety. As a flock animal he needed to be with his own kind and very quickly made new friends. Cheryl continued to visit him frequently and posted updates to his 80K followers on Instagram and Facebook pages. She also made a film about their relationship released in March (2022). Honk became a symbol of hope and friendship; an advocate for dumped animals and above all showed the world that birds and waterfowl are sentient beings needing love, companionship and respect.

​Honk unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on his favourite pile of leaves on February 1st, 2022, believed to be older than originally thought, and united his followers, Cheryl and Rogers Wildlife Sanctuary in grief. Cheryl will continue to advocate in his memory and together with the AHHOF will continue his legacy through a new award being launched in his name recognising sanctuaries or individuals worldwide who specialise in helping birds and waterfowl.