THE RELEASE of some 5,000 mink from a farm in Co Donegal is being investigated by gardaí while locals search for the hundreds of animals that remain on the loose.
The owners of the mink farm are blaming “animal liberation terrorists” after the animals were freed in what they claim was a deliberate attack.
A Garda spokesman said that a fence on the farm near Meenavalley was damaged by being cut or broken between 1am and 9am on Sunday.
Hundreds of animals are still on the loose from Anderson’s Mink Farm near Ardara and many more have been killed by motorists.
Connie Anderson, co-director of the farm, said it was “a pure act of vandalism or terrorism” and “pure sabotage”. Mr Anderson said those who carried out the attack had no thought for the consequences of their actions. “These people are animal liberation terrorists and had no thought for the mink or for the damage that will be done to other wildlife in the area.”
Some 32,000 mink were in the cages which were cut. “Cutting wire and opening gates was just wrong,” Mr Anderson said. “A lot of the animals stayed in their cages but a lot of others are roaming around the farm. Many did get out the gates and many of those will perish.”
Local gun clubs have set dozens of traps and last night continued to catch many of the escaped mink.
James Morrin of Killybeggs Gun Club said that some 100 mink have been caught alive in traps and local club members expect to round up the remaining animals in the next few days.
Noel Carr, secretary of the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea-Trout Anglers, said the freed mink could damage local salmon stocks. “The salmon spawning beds are fair game to mink. I am speaking as an angler, but this release will also have a huge effect on tourism in the area.”
He was also concerned at the delay in hearing about the incident and the lack of a plan to deal with problem.
“Mink travel very fast and I am horrified that nobody was informed. We have lost two or three days of action because we were not told. It confirms our worst fears that there is no action plan for capture or for public awareness on how to deal with such invasive animals,” he said.
Some people suspected it was “young fellows from the dances”, Mr Carr added. “I suspect that it may just be foolish vandals.”
Animal rights organisations contacted by The Irish Timessaid that they had not heard about the incident and did not know if animal rights activists were involved.
“We have nothing do with it. However, I commend whoever risked their freedom to do this as these animals have a horrendous life,” said Bernie Wright of the Alliance for Animal Rights.
She said the incident may have been “strategically timed” before animals were killed in the next few months.