Kamal Ghorui
A man from central China made a bizarre discovery while slaughtering a duck. Tiny particles of gold were lodged inside the bird’s stomach. The find, weighing around 10 grams and valued at nearly 12,000 yuan (about US$1,800), has gone viral online. Villager Liu, from Longhui county in Hunan province, reportedly said the ducks were free-range and raised near a river that was once famous for gold mining.As reported by the South China Morning Post, experts suggest that the ducks likely swallowed mud containing gold particles. The body cannot digest gold, so it passes through without harm. Liu’s unusual discovery also echoes an ancient Tang dynasty practice of collecting gold from duck droppings.
Chinese villager discovers 10 grams of gold inside a duck during routine meal
Liu noticed something unusual when he was preparing the duck. The tiny shiny specks inside the stomach caught his attention. He conducted a simple burning test to confirm if the particles were genuine. The results confirmed they were indeed gold. Liu said the ducks had likely ingested the gold while foraging near the river. Other villagers reportedly found small amounts of gold in ducks before, though none discovered as much as Liu did.Experts say larger or impure pieces could cause intestinal blockages or poisoning in animals and humans. This is rare, but it shows that gold inside a living creature can carry some risk.
Social media reacts to rare duck gold find
The story has caught fire on social media, with over 10 million views reported. Many people joked online. One said they wanted to raise a thousand ducks near the river. Another suggested the duck was “repaying Liu’s family.”Some netizens have questioned the authenticity of the find. The Longhui County Natural Resources Bureau reportedly said further verification by a professional institution is required to confirm the particles are gold.
Ancient gold practices in China resurfaces
Farmers used to collect gold particles from the faeces of ducks and geese. The Chenshui River, where Liu’s ducks roamed, has a long history. Between the 1970s and 1990s, it was the site of a local gold rush. Private gold mining was common until authorities banned it. Under Chinese law, all underground resources belong to the state. Officials reportedly said that determining ownership of gold found in a duck is difficult.
