Dead cows washing up on Denmark and Swedish shores
Nearly a dozen dead cows have washed ashore in Sweden and Denmark, Scandinavian authorities report.
Since the end of December cows are being found by people enjoying the beaches of south Sweden or in Denmark. All of the animals had their ears cut off which was done to remove their identification tags, says investigators.
The latest theory is that the bovine were dumped from a ship sailing to the Baltic Sea. Dumping livestock like that is illegal in both countries.
Post-mortem examination results showed that at least two of those which washed up in Sweden had been shot, said Malmoe deputy chief prosecutor Ingvar Wennersten.
“We assume that they were on a vessel, where they were put to death and thrown overboard,” he said.
Danish police officer Boje Joergensen told the Associated Press that the back legs of some of the cows had been bound with blue synthetic rope.
This was probably done to be able to lift the animals up with a crane, he said.
Veterinarians in Sweden found no traces of disease in the animals washed ashore there, Swedish police said.
Police believe the cases are related as the cows were all black-and-white Holsteins.
photo 24oranges.nl via Flickr
