I am sorry, but Geronimo the alpaca has to die, says Minister
A CABINET Minister has defended a decision to put down an alpaca – despite the owner telling him he will have ‘blood on his hands’.
Environment Minister George Eustice admits it is ‘soul-destroying’ to have to kill animals, but insists it is the right decision to stop the spread of disease.
The MP – and former farmer – said: ‘While there are moments of joy and optimism in farming, every livestock farmer has to get used to their share of tragedy and loss.’ A
High Court judge has ruled that alpaca Geronimo has tuberculosis on the basis of two positive tests.
But his owner, Helen Macdonald, has claimed the tests were ‘misused’ and called for Mr Eustice to intervene as a last resort. She has also appealed to Carrie Johnson, the Prime Minister’s wife, to save the condemned animal, and has won the support of celebrities, including actress Joanna Lumley.
Mr Eustice said he has looked at Geronimo’s case ‘in detail’. Explaining why he has decided not to call off the death sentence, he said that the test used on Geronimo is ‘over 99 per cent accurate’.
He added: ‘Two consecutive positive test results is a very strong indicator of disease.’
Ms Macdonald, 50, has repeatedly appealed to Boris Johnson and Mr Eustice to halt the destruction order.
More than 90,000 people have signed a petition asking the Prime Minister to step in. But Downing Street has refused to grant a stay of execution. Speaking at her Gloucestershire farm, Ms Macdonald said: ‘I haven’t accepted for a moment that Geronimo is going to die.’
Geronimo, a six-year-old male, was imported from New Zealand in 2017. He was given four tests for TB before he left.
Ms Macdonald then gave him the voluntary Enferplex test when he arrived, which was positive.
A spokesman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: ‘The testing results and options for Geronimo have been very carefully considered.’
‘Every farmer has to get used to tragedy and loss’