Man discovers 10g of gold in duck while slaughtering it, worth Rs 1,62,000

Villagers found more than 10g of gold in the same river while washing sand last year. (Image credit: Handout)

• Man in Hunan finds 10g of gold in duck's stomach
• Gold likely swallowed from river mud near old mining site
• Ownership of gold found in duck remains unclear

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A man in central China made an unusual discovery while slaughtering a duck when he found gold inside the bird’s stomach. In February, a man surnamed Liu from Longhui county, Hunan province, discovered the gold particles in a duck’s stomach, South China Morning Post reported.

A burning test confirmed that the particles were real gold, weighing around 10g and worth nearly 12,000 yuan (Rs 1,62,000), Xinwenfang reported.

Liu’s father considered the discovery a sign of good luck for the year ahead. He explained the ducks were raised free range near a river previously known for gold mining, and may have swallowed mud containing gold.

The body cannot digest or absorb gold, and it usually passes through the digestive system without causing harm. However, larger or impure gold pieces may lead to issues like intestinal blockages or poisoning in both animals and humans.

Liu said such discoveries are not unique, and a few other villagers had found gold in ducks before, though not in such quantity.

The Longhui County Natural Resources Bureau told Jiupai News that a professional institution is needed to verify whether the particles are actually gold.

Officials noted that such discoveries are possible, adding that villagers found more than 10g of gold while washing sand by the same river last year.

The county’s Chenshui River runs north to south and was once a site where gold was discovered. Between the 1970s and 1990s, it triggered a local gold rush before authorities later banned private mining.

An official told The Paper that identifying who owns the gold discovered in the duck remains complicated. The rare find also echoes a practice during the Tang dynasty (618–907), when farmers gathered gold particles from duck and goose droppings.

As of March, gold prices in China ranged from 1,140 yuan to 1,190 yuan (Rs 14,850 to Rs 15,480) per gram. Amid economic uncertainty, many Chinese families are increasingly turning to gold as a safe investment. While some white-collar workers are investing in gold-linked funds, younger consumers are choosing affordable and creative gold products. During the Spring Festival, a woman in Chengdu in western China even turned 6g of gold jewellery into eye-catching golden nail art.