Thanks, Cameron, John I., Fliss, Ralph, and John R.
John makes a good point that one animal can represent the countless others who suffer or are murdered. I would like to add that the farmers missed a great opportunity with Geronimo. If he had not been executed, he could have been quite useful for research, studied both for cancer treatments and, even more, for finding ways to remedy the bTB epidemic. I’ve also heard that the main cause of the bTB epidemic is actually due to poor management of the cattle.
Geronimo autopsy says alpaca did not have TB
https://www.gbnews.uk/news/geronimo-...have-tb/125275
Ralph - I like “Good to know and good to widely show.”
Some further thoughts: From what I understand about the bTB situation: Culling badgers in not the solution. Killing innocent, healthy alpacas is not the solution. Making a vaccine is one possible answer to the problem. Formulating a more accurate and reliable test is another remedy. Killing healthy alpacas is certainly not helping the cattle farmers. (Are there any cattle in the vicinity of Helen’s alpaca farm? I doubt it. Geronimo was quarantined and the farm he was on is the most bio-secure farm in the UK.) There is another solution, however, which most people don’t consider: just don’t eat beef. (How many cows are killed because of bovine TB? Thousands. How many cows are killed for Homo sapiens’ bellies? Millions.)
And, by the way, people are not dying of bovine TB, since milk is pasteurized, which has been the case for over 100 years. Before that, yes, lots of people were getting sick from drinking infected milk.
Scientists believe the government did not want to lose face by admitting they were wrong about the alpaca having TB. That’s why they killed him. After four years of supposedly living with TB, why didn’t he show any symptoms or die? They know their test is flawed, but don’t seem to want to do anything about it. Here is a poem I just found when I was Googling “pasteurized milk history”:
“Creamery Journal, 1907”
Inspector Under the Act
“Where are you going, my pretty maid?”
“I’m going a-milking, sir,” she said.
“Dear maiden, I’d like to disclose the fact,
That I’m an inspector under the Act.
So pray remain, for I want to know
A thing or two before you go.
Nay, pretty maiden, you must not weep;
How far away are the pigs you keep?
And what percentage of butter-fat
Does your moo-cow yield? Pray tell me that.
And how is the health of your pretty pet;
Has it anthrax, cancer, blackleg, garget?
Has your sister measles or whopping cough;
Is the water clean in the drinking trough?
I pray thee answer these questions of fact,
For I’m an inspector under the Act.
With the fierce bacilli also I cope
By means of my powerful microscope.
Excuse me, I must examine your hand,
Purely official, you understand.”
The New Verse News
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