Geronimo the alpaca: Owner blocked from observing post-mortem

The owner of Geronimo the alpaca has accused the government of "concealing its processes" after being refused permission to observe its post-mortem.

Geronimo was taken from Helen Macdonald's farm near Bristol by authorities and killed on Tuesday.

She said "hitmen ripped the animal" from her farm and "tortured him in plain sight".

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it could not accommodate Ms Macdonald's requests.

Geronimo twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, and Defra ordered him to be euthanised to stop the spread of the disease.

Ms Macdonald, a veterinary nurse who always disputed the test results, has since called on Environment Secretary George Eustice to resign.

Defra said Geronimo was euthanised in order to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis

She had applied in writing for an independent witness to be present when a post-mortem examination was carried out on Geronimo, who came to the UK from New Zealand in 2017.

But it was refused, according to Defra, "for health and safety, Covid-19 and site security reasons".

Ms Macdonald tweeted: "Citing Covid and security reasons are appallingly weak excuses to block an independent observer to the post-mortem of Geronimo."

She added that although she is a qualified vet, she was being blocked because Defra "don't want us to know the truth".

"This is an immensely arrogant and blatant continuation of their mission to conceal their processes and act without transparency and fairness," added Ms Macdonald.

Helen Macdonald’s animal was destroyed after twice testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB)

Defra said it will share the results of the post-mortem with Ms MacDonald once they are complete, which could take up to three months.

Her independent veterinary scientific advisor, Dr Iain McGill, has asked to be given tissue samples from the examination.

The former Government scientist, who was involved in uncovering the BSE (mad cow disease) scandal, said: "This is such a high-profile case. I don't think Defra and the APHA can be trusted to give us a valid positive result."

The prime minister's father and former Conservative MEP, Stanley Johnson had called for Geronimo to be re-tested rather than killed.

He said the events of this week could change how Bovine TB is controlled.

"It would be nice to think Geronimo's death has not been in vain and if this does lead to a re-evaluation of the culling policy then we might say something good has come from this," he said.

Ms Macdonald received an outpouring of support from the public

Defra officials dressed in blue overalls, goggles and masks, accompanied by police, arrived at Ms MacDonald's farm in Wickwar at about 11:00 BST on Tuesday and led Geronimo away, with the scene broadcast on an online live feed of the enclosure.

The British Alpaca Society, which represents around 2,000 owners in the UK, has written to the Government demanding a formal public investigation into the animal's "brutal" treatment by officers and vets.

Sue Loach, Chair of the BAS wrote: "The lack of knowledge as to the correct way to handle alpacas was startling and totally inexcusable, dragging him kicking and screaming on to a trailer then tying him up with a poorly fitted cattle halter.

"If this is the level of 'professionalism' shown by government officials in difficult circumstances, then something is very very wrong."

A spokesman for Defra said, "removal operations were carefully planned and conducted, and included consideration of Geronimo's welfare".

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Ms Macdonald added: "The Secretary of State has acted in bad faith, refusing to engage with us to discuss a research solution that would further the Government's very own objectives.

"Instead he has resorted to bullying and cowardly tactics, hiding behind Government lawyers and refusing to listen to us."