A month back, UK recognised the looming problem of solitude amongst humans and hence, thought of appointing a minister for it.
Just in case you don’t already know, loneliness is a menace for us, human beings. It is real and threatening.
However, what you might now already know is the fact that humans are not the only ones who suffer from it.
Nigel is a gannet known to the entire world as the loneliest bird ever, has been found dead in a New Zealand island surrounded by the colony of the concrete statues which were, apparently, its only companions.
Nigel tried to woo one of the concrete birds for months and eventually fell in love with it. Amidst them all, it was this one specific statue that received Nigel’s affection. It was just this one particular statue that Nigel liked the most and was found dead next to it earlier this week.
“Nigel our first gannet has died suddenly,” the Friends of Mana Island said in a Facebook post.
He was uniquely the only living bird that lived among creatures made of concrete, which is the sole reason why it won hearts of so many Mana Island inhabitants and visitors.
1.
Nigel, the world's loneliest bird, died next to the stone decoy he loved. Scientists placed decoys on an island hoping to establish a bird colony but only Nigel took the bait. This is one sad story. And pretty cruel. https://t.co/CcrRkkyobu @karinbrulliard
— Darryl Fears (@bydarrylfears) February 2, 2018
2.
“Nigel, perhaps the loneliest bird on Earth, even built a nest from seaweed, mud, and twigs for his concrete love” 😢 😔 😞 https://t.co/I4Fx86QNYD
— Adam Lang (@AdamBalfourLang) February 2, 2018
3.
I never thought a story about an isolated New Zealand bird would break my heart but it has. No point making any more plans for Nigel. 😢 https://t.co/dmXSkLPwFm
— Reetu Kabra (@ReetuKabra) February 2, 2018
4.
I get it, Nigel. I get it. https://t.co/GjqLZYpKDz
— Jesse Case (@jessecase) February 2, 2018
5.
Nigel, the loneliest bird in the world, has been found dead next to the fake bird he tried to woo for years https://t.co/1KyRP1crsu pic.twitter.com/5XuIZ04kQX
— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) February 2, 2018
6.
— Fr. Andrew Ellison (@AndrewRedRDR) February 2, 2018
7.
https://twitter.com/zackwhittaker/status/959438497714143232
The New Zealand Department of Conservation had claimed that that concrete gannet colony was established so as to attract more birds and make help them to settle in the community that looked like owns.
Nigel was the first flesh-and-blood gannet to arrive, making landfall in 2013 and stayed since.
Nigel is dead now. Nigel’s death has affected a lot of people and members of the community who looked after and took care of the island.
“This just feels like the wrong ending to the story,” said one of the members, reports ABC.
One of the greatest threats to our lifespans is loneliness.
We hardly know how many of us – both humans and animals are victims of the deadly threat of loneliness. Here’s the story of Nigel – his death reminding people of their own stories.
