top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

More horses with ear removed found dead in France

At least five horses, a pony and a donkey have been found dead with one ear chopped off since the beginning of February in various departments in France.

The two latest victims were found in Seine-Maritime in Normandy, according to radio network France Bleu. They follow two other similar attacks in the same department earlier in June. Police in several departments as well as a special unit focusing on combating attacks against the environment and public health are investigating.

On June 6, a mare was found dead near Dieppe with her right ear cut cleanly off. Then, almost two weeks later in Grumesnil, a man found his 14-year-old donkey dead in its meadow, with an ear cut off and one of its eyes gouged out. The owner, Loïc Crampon, who breeds donkeys, filed a complaint to the police, France Bleu reported. 

“It’s a gratuitous act on a defenseless being, it’s inhuman to do that,” the radio network reported him as saying. 

Now, investigators have uncovered two further cases in Seine-Maritime, although the animals’ owners have not officially complained.

Several other incidents have taken place in France since February in Moselle, Vendée, the Aisne, and the Somme involving attacks on horses and donkeys. Each animal had an ear cut off. 

Mr Crampon told France Bleu that it could be the act of a sect or part of a satanic ritual but he thinks it more likely to be some sort of internet challenge.

Related stories:

Dairy cow investors lose €800,000 to fraudsters

End animal cruelty and abandonment in France, says MP report

Brigitte Bardot demands right to keep wild boar as a pet

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France