‘BORIS, HELP SAVE ALPACA’

Geronimo owner’s plea to PM

ALPACA Geronimo’s owner has urged Boris Johnson to resolve the stand-off over his future.

Helen Macdonald claimed Environment Secretary George Eustice is refusing to talk to her, called on the PM to intervene.

The High Court has granted a destruction order that is valid until September 4.

Ms Macdonald said: “It just seems a bit harsh to leave me hanging here with guns pointing at my head when George Eustice hasn’t spoken to me in three years.

“It’s the uncertainty, anxiety and stress. If George Eustice does not want to talk to me then Boris Johnson can.” She pleaded: “Can we just get an end to this please, Boris and Mr Eustice?”

Geronimo twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. Ms Macdonald believes they returned “false positives”.

The veterinary nurse, of Wickwar, Glos, said: “We haven’t heard anything from Defra or anyone and we’re still asking for valid testing four years after they bungled the last one, or to keep Geronimo in isolation for research purposes, which is what we’ve been doing for four years.” She added if Defra officials do destroy Geronimo, it will take be “in front of a worldwide population”. Defra said: “The testing results and options for Geronimo have been very carefully considered... as well as passing several stages of legal scrutiny. While nobody wants to cull animals, we need to do everything we can tackle [bovine TB].”