Hunt for cruel 'sadist' who killed rare sheep

Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Police are looking for a gunman described as a "nasty sadist" after 50 rare sheep were shot.

Some had also been mauled by a dog, believed to have been with the shooter, and were barely alive when found.

Bay of Plenty sheep farmer David Hewitt says he has had trouble sleeping since discovering the massacre last week, fearing the person responsible could return and kill more of the rare breeds.

Because of the value of the sheep, Rotorua's Daily Post agreed to keep their location a secret, other than to reveal the farm is north of the city.

An armed police officer had to destroy two ewes, and Mr Hewitt killed four others.

Rotorua police and the SPCA are keen to find whoever is responsible for what SPCA general manager Nicola Martin calls the worst animal cruelty she has seen.

Mr Hewitt said he was devastated at what had happened.

"There were dead sheep all over the place. Normally we would save the meat but we were too sickened by it that we didn't. The ewes had been chewed up so much they couldn't stand up so we had to kill them.

"There are sheep running around with their ears cut off and we have lambs with no mother. It's heartbreaking."

Mr Hewitt has been working with sheep for more than 50 years and has been building up this flock for a few years.

Among them are rare Welsh Aran sheep, of which there are now only 16 left in the world. He also has Hebridean sheep and Arran sheep from the Scottish Isle of Arran.

He imported many from the Chatham and Pitt Islands at a cost of $1000 each.

"They're practically extinct - the idea was to build up a new flock.

"Whoever has done this is a nasty sadist. They have tried to inflict maximum cruelty."

Rotorua SPCA is caring for three of the lambs - one was shot right through its body and has bullet grazes on its head and legs.

Ms Martin was horrified by the cruelty of the attackers.

"They're not hunters, [they're] nothing more than absolute mongrels who take enjoyment in harming animals."

- APN