Echo Park is just north of downtown LA. Although many migratory birds use Echo Park
as a stop-over point, there is also a native bird population of geese and ducks.
This population includes Maria the goose, who adopted Dominic as her most treasured and dear friend. Dominic is a retired salesman who comes to the lake three times a day to feed the birds and hang out with his sweet little friend Maria. Maria follows him everywhere and even flies next to his scooter when he tries to leave her. |
Oops! Maria is actually a Mario!
Experts at the Los Angeles Zoo made that discovery after city officials arranged to have the graylag fowl relocated there to make way for an upcoming park renovation project, goose benefactor Dominic Ehrler said Thursday. The newly renamed Mario will remain in quarantine at the zoo for 30 days before being put on public display, Ehrler said. The gander was moved from Echo Park because animal activists feared harm might befall him because his newfound fame, Ehrler said. "He's Mario now. But I'll call him Maria if he doesn't respond to Mario, said Ehrler, 65, who fed the goose tortillas daily at the park before leading the bird on his scooter down Park Avenue. |