UPDATE: University of Miami police said a suspect was arrested and charged with animal cruelty on Monday night, . The suspect has not been identified by law enforcement authorities.
A video of an unidentified individual kicking a campus duck and a photo of another unidentified individual grabbing the duck by the wings started circulating around the University of Miami community on Friday.
According to multiple sources, the duck in the photo and the video is the same beloved duck that the community has named 鈥淚van.鈥� Ivan is notoriously friendly, frequently waddling up to students in hopes of food or water.
鈥淭he duck in the photo and video have the same marking, so I鈥檓 not certain that it鈥檚 the same duck but I would assume so,鈥� said Alexa Wood, a UPurr member and sophomore studying marine biology and ecology. 鈥淚n the UPurr GroupMe, people were discussing Ivan and said that he was hanging around outside Daybreak and Smoothie King. Ivan is the only duck that would come up to me and not walk away when I got too close.鈥�
The muscovy duck species is an invasive species and UM has formerly made attempts . Apart from being non-native, some students find the ducks dirty and aggressive.
This is not the first time that UM鈥檚 campus has experienced animal cruelty allegations. In September of 2023, UPurr led an investigation after on campus.
Many students are upset about the documented animal cruelty and are demanding action. Wood filed a complaint about the documented duck cruelty via the .
鈥淚 filed a report because I don鈥檛 mess with animal abuse,鈥� said Wood. 鈥淚t could have been so easy to walk away faster, but by antagonizing the duck, the man in the video made the situation so unnecessary. Kicking it was even worse.鈥�
UM authorities are aware of these incidents and is investigating.
鈥淭he University of Miami Police Department, the Department of Facilities and Operations and Human Resources are investigating the two incidents and taking appropriate action."University of Miami statement to The Miami Hurricane
鈥淭he University of Miami Police Department, the Department of Facilities and Operations and Human Resources are investigating the two incidents and taking appropriate action,鈥� the University of Miami said in a statement to The Hurricane. 鈥淗arming wildlife is a criminal offense and perpetrators will be prosecuted. The University of Miami does not condone the mistreatment of animals as viewed in these deplorable acts.鈥�
It is not yet confirmed if the duck has passed. Students suspect that the unidentified individuals may be UM or ABM employees because of their attire in the video and photo.
The individual kicking the duck in the video is wearing a dark green polo and a lanyard, while the individual in the photo is wearing a dark blue shirt, similar to those of ABM.
鈥淚 do think it was an employee,鈥� said Wood. 鈥淚n the video, the person is wearing a lanyard and that鈥檚 the token employee uniform.鈥�
Students also acknowledge that while the ducks can sometimes be intrusive, it鈥檚 no excuse to be cruel or abusive towards living creatures.
鈥淓ven if he pecks at people, it鈥檚 important to remember that we share this campus with the wildlife,鈥� said UPurr member Charlotte Watts. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just ours, and people shouldn鈥檛 be so selfish and cruel.鈥�
UPurr and other students are going to search for Ivan on campus today and continue pursuing justice for the duck.
鈥淚van was a beloved, very social yet harmless duck. He would go up to you to try to get your attention, but he would never hurt anyone,鈥� said UPurr member Leo Fernandez. Fernandez was also the one who named this duck, earning Ivan a special place in everyone鈥檚 heart.
was originally published by The Miami Hurricane, the student newspaper of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, as part of an editorial content partnership with the SA国际传谋 newsroom.
