Has there been a thread about Geronimo?

Thank you for that link Jaxjacky. Deviate all you like
Actually it was a useful read. Another successful vaccination on the horizon?

its very sad, but those of us without expertise should accept that rules are rules however much we thi k our own cases are exceptions
This was the perspective I was initially coming from.
But if we believe the gov. is in the wrong, then we should peacefully protest, no?

Apparently he was vaccinated Callistemon and his owner is claiming this may have caused a false positive test result.

I must have missed that nightowl

He does have a sweet little face .....

Everything you have said sounds like a clear endorsement of changing the system vegansrock.
Did Defra have any concrete reasons to challenge these findings?
I suppose the cost implications of imposing a new regime would need thinking about.
From what you have said, it does seem a lot more complicated than at first.

www.gov.uk/government/news/green-light-for-ground-breaking-bovine-tb-vaccine-field-trials

Hopefully these trials for an effective bovine vaccine will be successful, sorry, deviated from Geronimo.

I thought the order was stopped some time last week for a further test, which was positive. The order was then reinstated but local vets are hesitant to carry it out because of the strength of popular feeling. It's very sad and unfortunate, but those of us without expertise in this area should accept that rules are rules however much we think our own cases are an exception.

Badger culls have been ineffective in halting bovine TB and in many cases have made it worse. A large number of eminent scientists have opposed the badger cull on the grounds that it cannot solve the problem of bovine TB in cattle. A letter signed by 31 renowned scientists in October 2012 stated “we believe … that licensed culling risks increasing cattle TB rather than reducing it.” This was followed in 2015 by a group of 27 independent vets who wrote an open letter expressing their professional concern that the scientific evidence should be re-examined before authorising further culling activity. These included whether a thorough Disease Risk Analysis had been completed for the policy. As far as Geronimo goes , alpacas are not bovine and there is little evidence to suggest the standard test is effective, and no evidence that an isolated animal would spread disease .

Isn't he dead yet? I thought the deed had been done.

The only good I can see which may possibly come out of all this is that it's highlighting the need for alternative to TB culling.

Apparently he was vaccinated Callistemon and his owner is claiming this may have caused a false positive test result.

I guess there are indeed far worse things going on in the world than the fate of one small alpaca, but the day we stop caring about such minor things, or about animals that matter to us, or even those that matter to others like us, is another day where we lose a bit more of our humanity. And choosing not to care about Geronimo and the human who loves him will not make things one bit better for all those suffering in Afghanistan, in Syria, Iraq, and all the places in the world where terrible things are happening. It is perfectly possible to care about all those things at the same time.

Perhaps Geronimo needs help from Tonto and the lone Ranger

I agree maddyone but I don't know why he and his ilk couldn't have been vaccinated when he was very young - human children used to be.

I’m afraid I’m with the crowd here, he’s tested positive twice, just get it done. There are far more important things going on in the world than the fate of this alpaca.

How would you handle the badgers with TB if you could vegansrock?

If there is a vaccine available against Bovine TB why can't it be used routinely on animals such as alpaca, llamas etc. which will not enter the food chain?

Just shows we only value animals for their ££ potential. Killing badgers and alpacas to save cows who are seen as money making machines. The alpaca would be kept in isolation. I bet if it was peoples pet dogs or cats there would be even more of an outcry. The owner is asking for a test appropriate to alpacas which she would abide by if it was positive. No sensible reason why not apart from “computer says no”.

There are some rare ancient cattle at Chillingham. When there was foot and mouth in the area they came very close to having to be culled. They had managed to move some of them to Scotland in case anything like that happened but it still would have been a disaster in that they are truly wild and unique. For some reason Geronimo keeps making me think of Typhoid Mary. Can you be a silent carrier of TB?

I read somewhere that an autopsy was performed on the alpaca that was put down 4 years ago and there was no sign of tb.

I really think this is a " silly season" story. If he has tested positive of course he must be put down. All this talk of execution is so excessive.

My son in law owns a dairy farm.If their cattle tested positive whether they showed symptoms or not they would be culled and there would go their livelihood.
It’s a sad situation for the alpaca but if the animal has tested positive it can’t be exempt from the rules.As others have said this disease needs to be eliminated.

I understand that local vets are unwilling to euthanise the alpaca for fear of reprisals.

I am an animal lover as well but we have to be realistic, I agree with Jaxjacky bovine TB needs to be eliminated

Thank goodness it’s not just me!
I know we are a nation of animal lovers ( and I absolutely loathe animal cruelty) but the obsession with this blasted creature is out of all proportion.

I’m a great animal lover but if an animal tests positive for TB there is no choice it must be culled. It’s very sad but I believe the alpaca has already had two positive tests already?

JenniferEccles

I have to say I am staggered at the amount of media interest in this blasted alpaca.
Astonishingly the story has been in newspapers for several days.
Out of all proportion in my opinion but I’m probably in the minority.

It's been on the local news non-stop.

Farmers lose herds of cattle if the cattle test positive, their livelihood.
DEFRA should just get on with it.
Should have done it years ago, JaxJacky. If I had a cattle farm nearby I would not be happy!

It’s a huge fuss about nothing
Cannot they not pay for a private test to prove if it does or does not have TB …doesn’t the government, the press, and general public have anything else to be concerned about for crying out loud
Not even worth a thread to be honest

?

JenniferEccles

We agree then Whitewavemk2
Wow! I think that’s the first time isn’t it?
Who could have guessed that our common ground would be the over-hyped fate of an alpaca?!!

?. All is not lost