Calves hit on highway

Two herds of calves were found on State Highway 83 near Awamoko, inland from Oamaru last night. Photo/File

Four calves were hit by a vehicle and injured while wandering loose with several others on a North Otago highway yesterday.

Police are working out who is responsible for two herds of calves found on State Highway 83 near Awamoko, inland from Oamaru, just before 11.30pm yesterday.

A group of 15 was located near Wilson Rd after someone reported the mob to police.

Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said upon arrival a police officer found four of the animals had been struck by a vehicle, but no vehicle was at the scene.

The four calves were injured.

They were rounded up with the other animals and taken to a nearby field to be checked and looked after by a local farmer.

Police then found another herd of 10 calves about 2km away from the other group, Sgt Woodbridge said.

Officers were trying to track down the person who injured the animals and the person responsible for the calves.

There was a chance the calves could have left their paddocks through a broken fence, he said, and officers were checking at nearby farms.