Horses mutilated in France: the human trail ruled out in the majority of cases
Nearly 500 cases of mutilation of horses were recorded in France in 2020, but in only 16% of cases a human action was established.
AFP / Archives
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2 min
This may be the end of a case that has aroused great interest in France: the so-called "mutilated horses" case.
Horses, mares, donkeys and even foals found mutilated everywhere in France.
More than 500 reports have been made in recent months, but investigators say only 84 of these injuries were man-made.
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Newspapers, ministerial visits to the field, a stir among the population ... The mystery of the mutilation of horses had occupied the headlines of the news for part of the summer.
The intelligence services even evoked satanic rituals, challenges between several individuals, or acts of revenge in the equestrian world.
But ultimately none of that, since it seems that horses are injured, alone or among themselves, as explained by Mathilde Dhollande, of the French Institute of Horse and Education (Ifce): "
Horses are indeed capable of being injured in a natural way by objects which could be in their meadow or in their box.
There it is clearly up sharply compared to what usually happens.
"
► To read also: France: the mystery of the mutilated horses
An increase in cases which prompted the gendarmes to act and conduct several hundred investigations.
This is what Mathilde Dhollande specifies: "
There has nevertheless been an upsurge in serious cases with
proven mutilation,
so that is why the investigation is taken very seriously by the gendarmerie and that there are many means that are developed on this case, in particular forensic resources as well as human investigations.
There are analyzes that are made with specialized veterinarians who will assess the different cases.
"
A media runaway, psychosis, investigations, and finally four people arrested, including one who was sentenced at the beginning of the week to 12 months in prison.
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