'You won't find anyone to execute Geronimo': Alpaca's owners says there could be 'repercussions' if he is put down... as vet who examined the animal says any killer will be 'public enemy number one'

• Bob Broadbent examined Alpaca and says no sign of bovine tuberculosis 
• Owner Helen Macdonald, 50, insists tests flawed and Geronimo is disease free 
• Mrs Macdonald ignored a request from Defra to kill animal by 5pm last Friday 

Officials will struggle to find an ‘executioner’ for Geronimo because they will be labelled ‘public enemy No 1’, according to the death-row alpaca’s vet.

Bob Broadbent has regularly examined Geronimo, and says there is no sign of the bovine tuberculosis that the alpaca tested positive for in 2017 – the reason the High Court last week ruled he must be put down.

Owner Helen Macdonald, 50, insists the tests are flawed and that Geronimo is free from the disease. 

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Geronimo has twice tested positive and Ms Macdonald has been refused permission to have him tested a third timeMr Broadbent said: ‘Finding someone [to kill Geronimo] is going to be an issue. I don’t think you or I would like to be the person doing it. You’d be public enemy No 1.’

He added: ‘The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) already knows this and they’re hoping that Helen will do it for them. But she has refused to do it, unless he comes back positive after an appropriate validated test. I don’t think anyone will volunteer.’

Mrs Macdonald, from Gloucestershire, ignored a request from Defra to kill the animal by 5pm last Friday. She is now nervously awaiting a visit from Defra ‘executioners’ – but she too doubts any volunteers will come forward given the possible ‘repercussions’.

Mrs Macdonald, who is uploading a live feed of Geronimo’s movements, said: ‘If somebody comes here to kill Geronimo, they will be identified and there are people out there who won’t be happy about it.

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Geronimo the alpaca at Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire with owner Helen Macdonald‘There may be repercussions. How does that person get any employment liability insurance, for example? It is not something any vet will undertake lightly.

‘There is so much anger and rage about this. If Geronimo dies, I dread to think what will happen.

‘You only have to look at his Facebook page to see that. It’s out of my hands now.’

Defra officials have not said when they plan to destroy Geronimo, leaving his owner ‘on edge all of the time’