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--- ---CATTLE MUTILATIONS 'DOWN UNDER'? The number of 'Callie mutilations' contin ues to grow worldwide. The following is extracted from a local newspaper, and serves as a typical example of the cattle mutilation mystery. An excellent'documen tary on the subject is currently available: see Video Reviews this issue. Stock Shooting Angers Fanners When Christopher Hughes went 'halves' with his father in a fann at Mutdapilly, he i i ~ ~ I- s~._""l.... 68. NEXUS was prepared for hard work and financial struggle. Finding dead canle butchered in the pad dock was something he didn't expect two days after taking delivery of the property with his wife Samantha and baby son Thomas. The wasteful slaughter of two Santa Gertrudis steers confronted him early this month when he found the carcasses lying not more than 10 metres apart on a secluded bank ofWarrill Creek. Although there were no obvious bullet ~ TO G" I~ ./ ",w""Ti~~:/000::- 1r.v.-'" "Y.... ~ ~('3:aoc ~ '~ ~~-= ~ --:;::.J ~ §1Ir TOdl ~ '/" i"I' " .::.::: V holes on the 'two-year-old steers, tbey appear to have been killed in quick succes sion. One of the steers then had its rump cut out, which Mr Hughes said half explaIned some sort of reasoning behind the theft, but the rest of the carcasses bad been treated in an almost bizarre and disturbing manner. The tongues had been removed and the muzzles had been cut off along with the' unmarked ear on both beasts. Mr Hughes said the police had inspected the crime scene but he holds little faith in finding out who did it. The only significant factor to come to light is that some other cattle in the district were shot and mutilated in a similar way several years ago. He has worked out that the crime occurred when nobody was at the fann and he was ferrying equipment to the property from his father's holding at Canungra. "There's not much you can really do," Mr Hughes said. "It's disappointing that it had to happen straight off." Both of the steers cost $600 each from the 'foogoolawah store sale earlier this year. He said the incident didn't make the real isation of his plans for his [25 ha property, "Cobbie", any easier. (Source: Queensland CQuntry Life. 28 July 1994) OCTOBER -NOVEMBER 1994