A goose awaiting slaughter draws national attention
The footage shows a goose lowering its head, its beak touching the ground, as tears stream from the corners of its eyes. Dark tear marks are visible on the ground beneath it.
A child’s voice can be heard asking, “Why isn’t it moving at all?” The caption reads: “As soon as we started heating the water, it began shedding tears. Should we kill it or not, eat it or not?”
The video, released by “Chen Video,” affiliated with Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, spread rapidly across Chinese social media. Comment sections quickly filled with appeals urging the uploader not to kill the bird.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a goose shed tears. Such a sensible goose must be kept,” one commenter wrote. Another said, “All things have spirits; all living beings have spirituality.”
Some users offered to adopt it. “I can raise it until old age; my environment is very suitable,” one wrote. “Don’t kill it. This goose has spirituality. If not, sell it to me.” Others shared stories of keeping geese as pets.
For the best of our weekly content！
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Check your email to complete sign up
On Feb. 13, the uploader said that because of the collective calls from netizens, he did not dare to eat the goose and had already given it away. He added, “I will never eat goose again.”
Later that afternoon, reporters contacted the blogger. He said he had recently purchased the goose and planned to slaughter it on February 12 in his hometown in Anhui Province. He suggested that while a child was playing with a broom, the goose’s eye may have been touched, causing it to tear up. Many netizens, however, maintained that the goose shed tears because it sensed it was about to be killed.
Expert explanation and public skepticism
Dong Yulan, an animal anatomy expert at China Agricultural University, offered a physiological explanation for the phenomenon.
She said waterfowl spend extended periods in water and require strong waterproofing and infection prevention mechanisms. Their tears contain higher levels of oil and are more viscous, reducing irritation and inflammation. Compared with humans and many other birds, geese have more developed lacrimal glands.
Geese possess both lacrimal glands and Harderian glands. The lacrimal glands, located at the outer lower portion of the eyeball, produce watery tears that moisten and clean the eye’s surface. The Harderian glands, located at the base of the nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, are the primary tear-producing glands in birds. They secrete lipid- and mucus-rich fluids that protect the cornea, guard against bacteria, and enhance waterproofing.
Dong said tear secretion can occur to maintain eye moisture, prevent dryness, or respond to wind, sand, bright light, and other irritants. Illnesses such as colds, conjunctivitis, or respiratory infections may also lead to abnormal tearing, swollen eyes, and increased discharge.
In the case shown in the video, she said, physical irritation, such as being touched in the eye with a broom, could have triggered the tears.
Many online commenters rejected that explanation. “You believe what experts say? Geese are very intelligent,” one wrote. Another added, “Many experts are impostors.” Others argued that all living beings feel fear in the face of death and possess an instinct for survival.
Previous incidents involving animals and tears
Similar episodes have drawn attention in recent years.
In February 2022, a video from Chongqing showed a young man sharpening a knife to kill a goose he had raised for food. After seeing the goose shed tears, he said, “Forget it, I won’t kill it,” and stopped.
China Youth Daily previously reported that a netizen shared footage of a three-day-old calf standing quietly by a wall with tears in its eyes. According to the owner, the calf’s mother died during childbirth. After finishing its milk, the calf stood by the wall as tears fell one by one and its nose twitched. The netizen said the scene made him feel deeply saddened.
Some dog owners have described similar experiences. When returning home after extended trips, they said, their dogs wag their tails vigorously, jump uncontrollably, lick their faces, and sometimes appear to shed tears.
A study published on Aug. 22, 2022, in the journal Current Biology found that dogs may produce tears when reunited with their owners. Researchers reported that after five to seven hours of separation, dogs showed a significant increase in tear volume within five minutes of reuniting with their owners. Compared with reunions involving other familiar people, dogs produced more tears when meeting their owners.
Reflections on life and society
In a normal society, people and animals coexist peacefully, forming a stark contrast with the Communist Party’s contempt for life.
In China, not only animals but even human lives are humble. Ordinary people have become cheap laborers and even organ banks for the powerful to profit from, left to be slaughtered at will. Today, many people are beginning to awaken, stand up, speak out, and resist tyranny.
Original article
Comments