Geronimo! Alpaca that minister said should be put down because it has tuberculosis gets to live another day after its owner claims it’s not ill
- A five-year-old alpaca, sent for execution, has survived another night
- Farming minister George Eustice said Geronimo should be put down because he tested positive for tuberculosis
- Owner Helen Macdonald insists Geronimo has shown no signs of illness
AN alpaca that the farming minister said should be put down because it tested positive for tuberculosis had a stay of execution last night.
George Eustice demanded that five-year-old Geronimo be killed and Department for Environment officials warned they would get a warrant unless owner Helen Macdonald gave her consent.
But Miss Macdonald insists Geronimo has shown no signs of illness and sent them a legal letter setting out how she would launch a judicial review unless the alpaca is re-tested.
The 47-year-old, who keeps a herd of 75 alpacas at her farm in South Gloucestershire, says the tests produced false-positive results.
A Defra spokesman declined to comment.
Five-year-old Geronimo (pictured above) who was sent for execution because he tested positive for tuberculosis has survived another day

Farming minister George Eustice demanded Geronimo be killed and Department for Environment officials warned they would get a warrant unless owner Helen Macdonald gave her consent. Pictured: Owner Helen Macdonald and her alpaca Geronimo
Advertisement