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| Elks stolen from Somerset farm | Elks stolen from Somerset farm |
| (6 months later) | |
| Police are searching for suspected rustlers who stole six fully grown elks from a farm in Somerset. | Police are searching for suspected rustlers who stole six fully grown elks from a farm in Somerset. |
| Officers believe the thieves may have used dogs to round the large beasts up and must have had a sizeable lorry. They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who has been offered cuts of elk meat – or even an actual elk. | Officers believe the thieves may have used dogs to round the large beasts up and must have had a sizeable lorry. They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who has been offered cuts of elk meat – or even an actual elk. |
| Fortunately, farmer Paul Richards managed to stop a herd of bison, which roam in the same fields as the elk, from escaping after a fence was cut. | Fortunately, farmer Paul Richards managed to stop a herd of bison, which roam in the same fields as the elk, from escaping after a fence was cut. |
| "If they had got out it could have been a catastrophe," said Paul Richards, who raises elk, bison and wild boar for their meat at Woodentop farm, near West Coker. | "If they had got out it could have been a catastrophe," said Paul Richards, who raises elk, bison and wild boar for their meat at Woodentop farm, near West Coker. |
| The animals, which stand taller than a human adult, vanished between Thursday and Friday last week. Another elk was found nearby and returned. | The animals, which stand taller than a human adult, vanished between Thursday and Friday last week. Another elk was found nearby and returned. |
| PC Jackie Poole, who is leading the hunt, said: "This is an unusual theft and would have required a vehicle, and probably quite a bit of time, to complete. I would ask people in the area at the time to cast their mind back and see if they remember seeing anything suspicious. | PC Jackie Poole, who is leading the hunt, said: "This is an unusual theft and would have required a vehicle, and probably quite a bit of time, to complete. I would ask people in the area at the time to cast their mind back and see if they remember seeing anything suspicious. |
| "I am particularly interested in speaking to anyone who has been approached about elks or elk meat or anyone who saw a vehicle in the area which was capable of stealing these animals. It is possible that dogs were used to help herd the animals. If you can help please give me a call." | "I am particularly interested in speaking to anyone who has been approached about elks or elk meat or anyone who saw a vehicle in the area which was capable of stealing these animals. It is possible that dogs were used to help herd the animals. If you can help please give me a call." |
| Richards said he believed it was possible that the elk may not have been stolen but could have been freed by animal rights activists or even vandals, adding: "We're still trying to piece together what happened." | Richards said he believed it was possible that the elk may not have been stolen but could have been freed by animal rights activists or even vandals, adding: "We're still trying to piece together what happened." |
| He said that if the elk were roaming free rather than being taken they did not pose a danger to members of the public, despite their impressive size. | He said that if the elk were roaming free rather than being taken they did not pose a danger to members of the public, despite their impressive size. |
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