By Jo Riley
Four ALPACAS have been SHOT in the HEAD “like an execution” and killed in a field in a small village in South Cambridgeshire which was left looking like a “murder scene.”
Owner Dawn French said their six-acre field in East Hatley, near Gamlingay, looked like “a massacre” after the animals were found scattered around early yesterday (Sun) morning after they were shot with a “.22 or higher rifle.”
A ewe was also “massacred by dogs” and a fifth alpaca received a gunshot wound to its face, but survived, in the “horrific” incident, which happened between 6pm on Saturday (March 22) and 8.30am yesterday (Sun).
“It looked like a murder scene when we arrived, the alpacas had all been shot in the head like an execution, it was absolute carnage,” said Dawn.
“It’s something I would never want to see ever again and wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”
Dawn and her husband Brian, who have a smallholding with sheep, chickens and geese, were alerted to the incident in their overflow field yesterday morning.
The field contained six alpacas and two sheep and they arrived to find four alpacas shot in the head, one wounded and another unharmed.
One of the sheep was lying badly injured in a ditch and later had to be put to sleep and the other sheep was hiding in a hedge.
“We had a call on Sunday telling us to quickly get to the field and that it wasn’t a pretty sight,” said Dawn.
“We found four alpacas scattered around the field and they all had horrific head injuries. Another alpaca, our oldest, Pheobe, had a surface wound where she was shot in the face. She has survived but her face is paralysed and she is now on strong painkillers.
“There appeared to have been a dog in the field as there were dog footprints everywhere and sheep’s fleece on the ground where it appeared to have pulled the sheep.
“It all seems completely unreal, like something from a movie. We’ve had scenes of crime here investigating and the police are very concerned because a gun was used.”
Dawn said all the alpacas had been bred by them and were between eight and 12 years old.
“They were our pets, we love animals and we used to breed the alpacas and when they were younger we’d sell their fleeces,” she said.
“No one has any idea what the motive was. You can’t see the field from the road. One person said perhaps they were mistaken for deer at night as we do get deer stalkers. I just don’t know, maybe it’s the latest sick sport. It’s definitely not for food as they left the bodies behind.”
She also posted on Facebook: “Well, what an absolutely horrific day we’ve just had. 4 of our lovely alpacas shot in the head and killed, one ewe massacred by dogs, another alpaca wounded and one alpaca & ewe terrified and so skittish.
“All day spent at East Hatley with police, rural crimes team, SOCO & vet saving the injured one. What the hell happened!
“Absolute b%#^stards that have taken so many lives. Police are taking it very seriously with guns involved….what on earth next?”
She added: “Anyone with animals please be on your guard for these sick f#%^ers.”
Officers from Cambridgeshire Police have been carrying out house to house enquiries and are now asking for anyone with information about the incident to get in contact.
Sergeant Tom Nuttall, from the Rural Crime Action Team, said: “This was a highly distressing crime that has caused death and serious injury to defenceless animals. I would encourage anyone who knows anything about this offence to get in touch as soon as possible.”
A police spokesperson said they believed the weapon to be a “.22 or higher rifle.”
Anyone with information or anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area around the time of the incident or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage which they feel is relevant is urged to get in touch.
