After the mountain pasture tragedy

Shot down: Rampant cattle do not live to see July

The use of herding dogs did not have the desired effect either.

(Bild: FF Waidhofen an der Thaya)

The authorities were certain until the very end that the six animals posed no danger - unlike the mountain pasture tragedy in Salzburg's Gastein Valley, where a mother died. The Scottish Highland cattle were shy and had been faithfully circling their home farm in the Waldviertel for almost a month. They masterfully fended off intensive attempts to capture them. Unfortunately - because now they are dead. 

Witnesses claim to have seen the highland cattle running free in the Waldviertel as early as June 2. In any case, the authorities were called in on June 10. Since then, intensive attempts have been made almost daily to recapture the animals, all of which have been unsuccessful. Now the owner has asked for the animals to be shot. The "Krone" accompanied the hunt for the shy but loyal animals in Dimling in the district of Waidhofen an der Thaya until the very end, using fire department drones, volunteers, the police and also representatives of the authorities such as the official veterinarian. 

Weeks of exhausting hunting
The end of the almost endless hours that the farmer must have spent intensively capturing his original eight cattle over the past few weeks came on Thursday, June 27. Two animals returned home on their own in the meantime.