London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Protesters call on UK prime minister to halt ‘killing’ of Geronimo the alpaca over TB concerns, plan ‘human shield’ to save him

Protesters call on UK prime minister to halt ‘killing’ of Geronimo the alpaca over TB concerns, plan ‘human shield’ to save him

Campaigners gathered in Westminster on Monday to protest the planned euthanasia of an alpaca named Geronimo after he twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, an infectious deadly disease.

The protest was staged after more than 90,000 people signed a petition calling for the government to halt the alpaca’s euthanasia. The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered the animal be put down after its owner lost an appeal at the High Court to spare her pet.


Six-year-old Geronimo has twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, but its owners have demanded a stay of execution, claiming the tests have returned false positives and calling for a third definitive test to be carried out. The UK government dismissed any suggestion of a false positive, stating that there is a 0.36% chance of that happening.


If officials proceed with the plan to euthanise the animal, its owner, Helen Macdonald, and her fellow supporters have pledged to form a “human shield” around Geronimo to attempt to save his life. Expecting police to arrive at the farm from today, Macdonald declared that opponents of the planned cull are prepared to block access to authorities, even if they “try to catch us off guard.”

The legal battle to save Geronimo has been ongoing since 2017, with his owner being handed a second death warrant on Thursday after her final efforts to save the animal were dismissed. Before being exported from New Zealand, Geronimo returned four negative skin tests for bovine tuberculosis.


Boris Johnson’s father Stanley has entered the debate over the animal’s future, calling on the PM to avert “Geronimo’s judicial execution.” Stanley Johnson, an ardent wildlife campaigner, slammed DEFRA for attempting to carry out an “absurd murderous errand.”

A spokesperson for DEFRA defended the decision to cull the alpaca, highlighting in a statement that “bovine tuberculosis is one of the greatest animal health threats we face today.” The disease has plagued the UK countryside for years, resulting in the implementation of a test-and-slaughter programme by Public Health England to protect cattle and other wildlife from infection.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×