"Same Speeding Incident as 7 Years Ago, April Fool's Prank?"... Viral Photo Causes a Stir

Mallard Duck Caught by Swiss Speed Camera
Captured Flying Close to the Road
Same Incident Occurred at the Exact Location Seven Years Ago

A mallard duck was caught speeding by a traffic camera in a village in central Switzerland, drawing public attention.

According to recent reports from international media outlets such as the BBC, on April 13, a wild mallard duck was captured by a speed enforcement camera in the village of Koenitz, located in central Switzerland. The road in question had a speed limit of 30 km/h, but at the time, the duck was traveling at 52 km/h.

A mallard duck captured by a speed camera in the village of Koenitz, Switzerland

In the photo released by local police, the mallard duck can be seen flying with its wings fully spread, close to the road. Because of this, the speed camera, which is designed to detect vehicles, identified the duck as a speeding object and took its picture. Authorities stated that it is highly likely this duck has committed the same act repeatedly. Furthermore, suspicions were heightened by the fact that exactly seven years earlier, on April 13, 2018, at the same location and at the same speed, a similar photo of a duck in flight was captured.

Some internet users speculated that this "notorious racer" duck might be an April Fool's prank created by the police. However, a police investigator dismissed this, stating, "It is impossible to manipulate the images from the speed enforcement camera system." Local authorities also explained that the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology tests the traffic cameras every year and that the photos taken are sealed.

In a Facebook post, Koenitz local authorities wrote, "We hope the public enjoys this 'bizarre coincidence' that has occurred after seven years." They added, "We hope you have fun learning about these curious coincidences, the criminal schemes of animals, and the maximum flight speed of ducks." Some internet users left comments expressing curiosity about what kind of punishment this "racer" duck might face for its violation.

The typical flight speed of a mallard duck is around 65 to 80 km/h, and with a tailwind, it can reach up to 105 km/h. In contrast, when swimming, its speed is much slower, at around 3 to 5 km/h.