Friday, October 28, 2016

United Kingdom: Manx Loaghtan ram mauled and killed in dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- Police are investigating another dog attack on livestock in the west of the Island.

A Manx Loaghtan ram has been attacked, mauled and killed in a field at Ballacosnahan Farm on Patrick Road - the attack happened between 24 - 25 October.


The Western Neighbourhood Policing Team is appealing for witnesses who saw loose dogs in the area at the time to come forward.

Officers also ask for the owner of the dog to come forward believing they would have been aware of what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Peel Police Station on 842208.

HOW SPECIES RELY ON EACH OTHER FOR SURVIVAL

The Manx Loaghtan is a breed of sheep (Ovis aries) native to the Isle of Man. The sheep have dark brown wool and typically grow four to six horns on their heads. It has been designated an "at risk" heritage breed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. By the 1950s, there were only about 40 left in the world. Even today, with specific breeding and attempts to save the breed, it is said that there are fewer than 1,500 registered breeding females in the UK.

There appears to be a link between the presence of Loaghtan sheep and the ability of the Chough bird to thrive. Studies on Ramsey Island, Bardsey Island, and the Isle of Man have found that as the number of grazing sheep fell, so did the number of breeding Choughs; when sheep grazing increased, so did the number of breeding Choughs. This appears to be occurring on Jersey as well.

As the Loaghtans graze, they crop and trample the grass. This enables the birds to get at surface-active and soil insects. Also, the dung they leave draws beetles and fly larvae. These insects in turn are a resource for the birds when the ground is hard or other insects are scarce. - Wikipedia


(Manx Radio - Oct 27, 2016)

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