The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Geronimo is culled despite owner’ s pleas
Geronimo the alpaca has been culled by vets carrying out a court-ordered destruction warrant.
The animal was taken from a farm near Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, yesterday morning.
Defra said Geronimo was euthanised by staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in order to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis.
Geronimo had twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and a destruction warrant had been ordered for him.
However, owner Helen Macdonald believed they were false positives and thousands of members of the public backed her plea to halt his culling.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “It’s obviously highly distressing for someone to lose animals to TB... Our sympathies are with Ms Macdonald.”
Avon and Somerset Police officers attended the site shortly before 11am yesterday.
The alpaca was led away by APHA officials, flanked by police officers as press photographers captured the moment.
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “This is a terribly sad situation and our sympathies remain with all those affected by this devastating disease.”
Defra said a post-mortem examination will be carried out by APHA veterinary pathologists.
Supporters had camped out at Ms Macdonald’s farm to try to prevent officials arriving to destroy Geronimo.
One woman was briefly arrested after spraying officers with a water pistol, but was quickly de-arrested.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Our role is to prevent a breach of the peace and to ensure public safety is protected.”