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Geronimo euthanised after four year legal battle
Supporters of the alpaca watched live as a webcam broadcasting Geronimo's pen captured the moment he was taken from the farm.

The now-famous alpaca was euthanised by officials on 31 August. 

Geronimo the alpaca, who was ordered to be euthanised by Defra, has been killed, as reported by BBC News.

The alpaca, who has been at the centre of a legal row with the government, tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in two tests four years ago, after arriving in the UK from New Zealand. 

Yesterday (Tuesday 31 August), Defra officials, accompanied by police officers, forcibly removed Geronimo from Wickwar farm, and shortly after, Defra confirmed that the animal had been euthanised. 

Defra has confirmed that a postmortem examination will be carried out by veterinary pathologists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

The alpaca's owner, Helen Macdonald, told BBC News: "We know now they have been stringing us along for the last week, fobbing us off by saying people are on holiday and would get back to us this week.

"In fact, all the time they were simply planning to murder Geronimo. This is yet another appalling demonstration of bad faith and duplicity by the secretary of state and everyone at Defra.

"Geronimo has been manhandled out of my farm. He was rounded-up and dragged into a horsebox."

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss told BBC News: "Not only is this essential to protect the livelihoods of our farming industry and rural communities, but it is also necessary to avoid more TB cases in humans.

"No-one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided."

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.