Bambi’s life in danger after abduction
The life-threatening plight of a blind alpaca has touched the hearts of Kiwis nationwide.
Police are receiving reports of sightings of its stolen sibling from around the country, but have no solid leads yet.
An alpaca breeder is also offering surrogate support for the stricken animal, who it is feared may die of loneliness.
Bambi the blind alpaca was left alone and stranded in the middle of his north Auckland paddock when thieves swiped his brother Charisma from under his nose on March 12.
He relies heavily on Charisma to help him find his way around his home, and with Charisma gone he stands alone and helpless, unable to move.
When Orewa police shared Bambi’s plight on social media to appeal for any information about the theft, Kathy Rademacher of Kaipara Pines Alpacas thought she needed to help. She contacted the owners with an offer to take a couple of her young alpacas to keep Bambi company, and hopes they will get back in touch before he dies of loneliness.
‘‘Alpacas are very much herd animals, and they do not like being alone. It just stresses them out and, in fact, some have died from the stress if it,’’ she said.
‘‘It will be really stressful for him to be by himself, let alone the fact he is blind. That’s why we are kind of in a hurry to get in touch with these people so we can do something to alleviate his problem.’’
Rademacher said she thought the theft was disgusting.
Sergeant Aaron Iremonger from Orewa police said that since his appeal for information showing Bambi stationary in a field, unable to move without his guide, police were fielding information from around New Zealand in relation to possible sightings of Charisma.
‘‘Bambi is definitely missing Charisma – that’s for sure.’’