High Strangeness
The latest in Cortambert, a village in the Saone-et-Loire region, occurred overnight on Friday.
The horse's right ear was cut off, one of its eyes was gouged out and its genitals had been cut away. "This is absolutely barbaric," a local official said.
A Paris police spokeswoman said there had been about 10 similar cases across France since the start of the year, most in the north and many taking place in secluded meadows.
She said there were also cases between 2014 and 2016 and that similar killings and mutilations of horses had been reported in the past in Belgium and Germany.
But the high number in France was unprecedented over such a short period.
"We do not understand the motivation. Is it a satanic rite, insurance fraud, some macabre trophy hunt or an internet challenge? We don't know. It is very traumatising," she said.
She said all types of horses had fallen victim, as well as one donkey, and that mutilation of an ear was a common factor. No meat had been taken from the carcases.
National police are assisting local investigations of cases, and France has sent alerts to other European countries' forces, she said.
Comment: See also:
- Investigations task force possible after more cattle mutilations in eastern Oregon
- Photos show unexplained cattle mutilation in Australia - Dead cows found in paddock with udders, ears and tongues removed
- Cattle mutilation found in Alberta, Canada
- Another animal mutilation reported in rural Oklahoma
- Reward money grows in sheep mutilation mystery
- Horse mutilation in Montoya region, Argentina
Reader Comments
The journalists say that actually some horses die of heart stroke in the fields and have their body parts eaten by scavengers. It seems that ears, eyes balls and genitalia are the softer pieces and the easiest to eat. But no forensic analysis gave clear evidence for this.
Now, to answer R.C., the numerous cases happened mainly in north of France and mid-land. It seems to be moving, changing places.
Horses breeders are getting so paranoid they are sleeping with their cattle. There seems to be A REAL paranoia about the whole stuff now. And yes, some talk about aliens too, even though one of the farmers got attacked by two humans speaking an unknown language.
(In this case, the animals were hurt, savagely stabbed, but not mutilated as with the classical cattle mutilation).
The journalists say that actually some horses die of1) Is correction valid?heartheat stroke in the fields and have their body parts eaten by scavengers.
2) Who are the scavengers?
It seems that ears, eyes balls and genitalia are the softer pieces and the easiest to eat. But no forensic analysis gave clear evidence for this.3) Any links?
Horses breeders are getting so paranoid they are sleeping with their cattle.4) Sleeping with their cattle? or horses?
THANKS!
RC
Yes, the horse breeders sleep in with their animals, is that correction more appropriate ? Sorry for my English if it caused some inconfort By the way, "cattle" (= troupeau) in French goes for all animals : horses, donkeys, goats, cows...
The journalist said that some of them breeders have placed trailers in their fields in order to stay in the vicinity, and some of them have made clear they bought rifles to protect their animals.
So far, no meat was ever taken from carcasses : it's just about killings and mutilating.
The full broadcast is here, but for French speakers i'm afraid. France Culture radio is a national Broadcast (belongs to Radio France).
[Link]
On a imaginé des rituels sataniques, des dérives sexuelles mais, sur 478 faits recensés, on ne parvient pas à définir de mobile véritable.
Translate as : we thought about satanic rituals, sexual assaults, but, among those 478 cases gathered, we haven't succeeded in profiling any real motives.
R.C.