Pressure mounts on eco-zealots who stole three lambs from the Royal Sandringham estate to reveal the animals’ whereabouts amid concerns about their welfare
- Young sheep taken from Appleton Farm in Norfolk by Animal Rising members
- Three women involved presented themselves to Slough police in Berkshire
- They released a picture of the lambs, but are yet to reveal where they are
The animal-rights zealots who snatched three lambs from the Royal Sandringham estate are facing demands to disclose where they are being held, amid serious concerns for their welfare.
The young sheep were taken from the Appleton Farm in Norfolk by members of Animal Rising last Wednesday.
Three women involved in the stunt presented themselves to Slough police station in Berkshire the next day and have since been released on police bail.
They have released a picture of themselves with the lambs in transit but are yet to reveal where the stolen animals are being held.
Movement of sheep across the country is strictly regulated to prevent the spread of diseases such as foot-and-mouth.
The animal-rights zealots who snatched three lambs from the Royal Sandringham estate are facing demands to disclose where they are being held, amid serious concerns for their welfare
The Animal Rising members have released a picture of themselves with the lambs in transit but are yet to reveal where the stolen animals are being held
Last night politicians and campaigners called for the group to confirm the lambs’ location and provide photographic evidence of their safety.
Branding the theft ‘deeply irresponsible’, former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: ‘For good reason there are extensive rules in place to safeguard the welfare of livestock, especially when animals are transported.
‘Animal Rising should reveal the location of the lambs and return them to their mothers. At the very least, they must provide photographic evidence that they are being properly cared for.’
Meanwhile, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: ‘Animal Rising are behaving like wannabe gangsters.
‘If they truly care about animal welfare, they must disclose photographic evidence to support their claims these stolen lambs are indeed alive and well.’
Last night a spokesman for Animal Rising, which was behind the plot to disrupt the Grand National last month, said it would release footage of the lambs ‘as soon as doing so does not risk their wellbeing’.
He added: ‘We have received confirmation from a qualified vet that all their vaccinations have either been delivered over the last couple of days or are scheduled as soon as reasonable.
‘Until their full course of vaccinations is completed, they are being kept apart from other animals to remove any risk of disease transmission’.
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