Row over Geronimo’s test results
A WAR of words has broken out over whether Geronimo the alpaca had bovine tuberculosis when he was culled by Government vets.
Supporters of the animal’s owner, Helen Macdonald, claim the initial findings of a post-mortem examination show Geronimo did not have the disease.
But Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, said “a number of TB-like lesions were found” during the examination and further tests were to be carried out. Geronimo was euthanised after police and staff from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) arrived at Ms Macdonald’s farm near Wickwar, south Gloucestershire, on August 31.
The animal was culled after he had twice tested positive for bovine TB, and after Ms Macdonald lost a lengthy legal fight to halt the execution warrant.
As the initial findings of the postmortem examination were released, Ms Macdonald and her supporters were holding a protest outside Defra headquarters in Westminster.
Speaking at the rally, Ms Macdonald renewed her calls for Environment Secretary George Eustice to resign over the post-mortem examination findings.
“We urge the Government to act with compassion and co-operation, which to date has been severely lacking, creating deep and unnecessary distress to Geronimo,” she said.