SEVERAL DUBLIN locals are being hailed as heroes after they rescued baby ducklings from a horrific end after their mother was killed by a car.
Seven passersby, as well as a volunteer from Dublin City Farm, took part in the dramatic rescue which involved protecting the brood from rats, seagulls and even another mother duck who was rejecting the ducklings as they attempted to join her and her babies.
Dublin local Aisling Cretaro took to Facebook to describe the harrowing rescue which took place in St Anne's Park, Raheny.
A volunteer from Dublin City Farm approaches the orphaned ducklings with a net (Aisling Cretaro / Facebook)"Myself and Ethan were walking our neighbours dog and brought some oats and corn to feed the ducks at the pond," she wrote on a public post. "When we got there, there was two couples there trying to protect a group of abandoned ducklings."
One of the rescued ducklings (Aisling Cretaro/ Facebook)Aisling went on to describe how the orphaned ducklings were being targeted by other animals-- "a rat had gotten one and a seagull swooped down and took three others on three separate occasions," she wrote, and "a mother duck who had her own set of ducklings was also attacking the abandoned ducklings when they tried to join her".
Aisling Cretaro / FacebookThe worried locals contacted Dublin City Farm, and a volunteer rushed to the scene with a net and a cat carrier to rescue and contain the terrified ducklings, and Aisling's father arrived to supply a hot water bottle to keep them warm.
Tragically, some of the babies just couldn't be reached-- but with the help of the volunteer, three of the ducklings were rescued and taken to Dublin City Farm, where they were put under heat lamps and are expected to make a full recovery-- as you can see below.
For footage and more images of the daring rescue which saved three little duckling lives, you can check out Aisling's original facebook post below.
Well done to everyone involved!
See More: Dublin, Duckling Rescue, St Annes Park
