Dogs have long been hailed as humanity's finest companions!
However, a group of large geese in Brazil begs to differ, having defeated and replaced dogs as the most popular "avian guards" in the prison.
In a prison in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, a flock of geese led by Piu-Piu patrols an area between the inner and outer walls, dubbed as the "green zone."
This area is equipped with a small pond where the geese can rest when they're tired from patrolling.
The prison's director highly praises this unique patrol team, stating that it's not that dog patrols are ineffective, but rather that the geese guards offer better cost-effectiveness.
In addition to the geese guards, the prison is equipped with advanced modern surveillance equipment, making the geese an auxiliary surveillance measure.
Staff say that geese are highly vigilant and territorial. If strangers enter their territory, these geese will make loud honking noises!
Lead goose Piu-Piu is very dedicated; whenever staff call its name, it responds with a unique trumpet sound.
Prisons are quiet places, especially terrifying at night, so raising geese here is highly suitable.
In case of a real escape attempt, if someone is detected by the geese, their loud honks will immediately summon the guards, making escape impossible for the inmates.
Moreover, geese are calmer than dogs; while dogs may bark out of boredom, geese won't.
Most importantly, raising geese is cheaper than dogs.
Given these advantages, geese have gradually replaced guard dogs and become the prison's guardians.
The tradition of employing geese as guards in prisons is not a new phenomenon, as seen in the recent hiring of large geese by a prison in Brazil.
Its vigilance saved the Romans from being "city-stolen".
In 390 BC, during a skirmish at the Battle of the Allia, the Gauls attempted to win by ambushing the Romans.
Unexpectedly, their ambush was foiled by a flock of geese, which were being kept for sacrificial purposes. Sensing something amiss, the geese honked loudly, alerting the Roman soldiers and thwarting the invaders, thus preserving their city.
As a result, the geese were revered with a sacred status after the battle.
It successfully guarded £300 million worth of Scotch whisky.
Reportedly, from 1959 to 2012, the warehouse stronghold of the Glenlivet Distillery employed geese as guards.
Starting with just 6, and at its peak numbering up to 100, they not only deterred would-be whisky thieves but also provided the warehouse with plentiful eggs.
Over a career spanning more than 60 years, the geese safeguarded the valuable whisky.
It's not the first time in Brazil that geese have been employed as guards.
In fact, as early as 2011, the Sobral prison in Brazil started recruiting geese for patrol duty, initially hiring just two of them.
Their work proved to be quite successful. According to reports, these two geese would "patrol" the prison, and whenever there was any unusual activity, they would make noise to alert the guards, yielding excellent results.
Over a decade later, Brazil is still utilizing goose guards, demonstrating the effectiveness of their work.
Border Geese of China
Due to their excellent guard capabilities, the United States Department of Agriculture once published a guidance document, suggesting that the best goose breeds for guarding are African geese, Roman geese, Pomeranian geese, and, of course, Chinese geese.
Among them, the most outstanding are the Chinese geese and African geese, not only for their large size but also for their loud voices.
During the pandemic, geese played a crucial role in border patrols.
Reportedly, at the border between Guangxi and Vietnam, patrol personnel would walk with a dog in one hand and two geese in the other for joint patrols.
Due to the highly effective epidemic prevention and control measures in our country, many foreigners sought to cross the border into China. At that time, the patrol team arranged for 500 geese and 400 dogs to patrol together.
With the assistance of the goose guards, patrol personnel have successfully apprehended multiple illegal intruders. In the words of a patrol team member, "The effectiveness of the goose guards is remarkable and deserves recognition!"
The Fighting Power of Geese
Many people only think of swans when they hear about geese, associating them with elegance and beauty. But how could they also be considered tough?
Those who hold this belief clearly underestimate the fighting power and social dynamics of geese. Let me tell you, back in the day, I was bullied by a goose to the point of questioning life itself!
Sitting on the doorstep, enjoying my meal, only to have it pecked away by the goose. My bowl fell to the ground, and I was left in tears. Visiting a friend next door, only to be chased by a goose spreading its wings, even intimidating my big dog at home. I tried to fight back once, but the goose became even more aggressive, giving me a nasty peck.
Since then, I steer clear whenever I see a goose.
The main characteristics of geese include excellent eyesight, curiosity, and high vigilance.
In the wild, geese are social animals, typically led by a male goose who guards the family and their territory. Consequently, they can become aggressive towards intruders, especially during the breeding season.
Spreading their wings and vocalizing loudly is actually a warning from the male goose: "Please leave my territory."
While being excellent guards, geese also have another notable trait: fearlessness.
Usually, when faced with much larger animals, the instinct is to flee.
But geese are different. They maintain a defiant attitude throughout, refusing to back down from any threat.
This fearlessness is evident in cases where wild geese from abroad have injured humans.
The man chased by a goose until he fell over.
"Mom, come save me!"
In foreign countries, wild geese are almost always protected. Harming them means facing hefty fines, and in severe cases, imprisonment.
In such an environment, the population of geese is steadily increasing, especially in urban areas.
They roam everywhere, occupying parks and riverbanks, leaving behind droppings. No one dares to harm them, but during the breeding season, they frequently attack humans.
To avoid conflicts between people and geese, many venue managers find ways to drive away the geese from their premises, giving rise to a new profession - goose herders. It's said that the price for one herding session is quite high.
In short, when used properly, it's a powerful tool, but when misused, it's a disaster, as exemplified by the goose.
I believe more places will hire geese in the future, but one thing puzzles me: "Geese have straight intestines, they eat and poop at the same time. How do prisons handle their droppings?"
