Geronimo the alpaca killed amid fury from 'disgusted' South West campaigners
But the government says he's been euthanised to prevent the spread of Bovine TB
Last updated 31st Aug 2021
A South West alpaca, who's become the subject of a national debate about Bovine Tuberculosis (TB), has been killed.
Government vets seized Geronimo from Shepherds Close Farm in Wickwar, Gloucestershire at around 11am on Tuesday 31 August. The officials, wearing full PPE, arrived alongside Avon and Somerset Police officers.
The animal was carried on a trailer and euthanised at an undisclosed location shortly after.
His owner Helen MacDonald has been through various legal challenges over the last four years, disputing tests that have been carried out on him - which claim the alpaca has twice tested positive for Bovine TB.
Thousands of people also signed a petition to keep Geronimo alive and supporters have been camping at the farm for weeks. They wanted to stop officials from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) from arriving to destroy the animal.
According to government officials, he was put down to prevent the spread of the disease.
It's thought Ministers wanted to euthanise Geronimo before a destruction warrant, ordering his death, expired on 4 September.
'I'm absolutely disgusted by this government'
Before hearing news of his death, Ms Macdonald told Greatest Hits Radio she was "absolutely devastated" that the alpaca had been confiscated.
The owner claimed campaigners have tried to engage with Ministers "constructively and persistently" over the past fortnight, to propose a solution that saved Geronimo's life.
"The government have refused to engage in good faith. We now know they have been stringing us along for the last week, fobbing us off by saying that people are on holiday and would get back to us this week.
"Now we know that they were not only ignoring our consistent pleas for constructive dialogue, but had no intention of engaging with us.
"This is yet another appalling demonstration of bad faith and duplicity by the Secretary of State and everyone at DEFRA ... I'm absolutely disgusted by this government," she added.
'No one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided'
Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer, branded the situation "terribly sad".
"No one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided, but we need to follow the scientific evidence and cull animals that have tested positive for bTB to minimise spread of this insidious disease and ultimately eradicate the biggest threat to animal health in this country.
"Not only is this essential to protect the livelihoods of our farming industry and rural communities, but it is also necessary avoid more TB cases in humans," she said.
A government spokesperson added: "It's obviously highly distressing for someone to lose animals to TB and that's a situation that farmers sadly have to face.
"Our sympathies are with Ms Macdonald and any others that are affected by this terrible disease".