Animal activists claim rogue cow in Duranbah, Tweed Heads shot dead by police
A rogue cow that ran amok on Duranbah Beach and through the streets of Tweed and Coolie after being displaced by floodwaters has been shot by police, animal activists claim.
Gold Coast
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A cow that survived being washed down the flooded Tweed River and ended up on a Gold Coast beach has reportedly been shot dead by cops.
The brown bovine was seen running around Duranbah Beach on the Queensland-NSW border all day on Tuesday.
Police were called after a dispute between an animal activist who wanted to take the bovine to a refuge in Brisbane and an Akubra-wearing farmer who claimed to know the cow’s rightful owner.
According to multiple social media reports, police were unable to catch the cow and shot it near Boyds Bay Bridge at Tweed Heads on Tuesday night.
“Cops just shot this poor **** FIVE **** TIMES,” one Tweed local posted on Facebook with a photo of police near the cow.
Police can use lethal force on an animal if it is causing a traffic hazard or danger.
Farm Animal Rescue at Dayboro, which worked for hours to save the cow, said they were “beyond distraught”.
“We are sorry to report that the cow who got caught up in the floods and lost her baby before ending up on the beach in Tweed Shire, has been shot by the police department,” the shelter posted.
“Our team spent 13 hours trying to bring her to safety and are beyond distraught.
“Rest In Peace sweet lady. Nobody can hurt you now.”
NSW Police Force have been contacted for comment.
Tuesday, March 1
It was a battle for the bovine at Duranbah after a rogue cow swam into the beach on Tuesday after falling into floodwaters.
It’s understood the cow drifted down the Tweed River in rapid floodwaters from a farm in Murwillumbah and was churned out onto the sand.
Gold Coast weather and flooding: Full list of road closures, flood warnings
On one side there was the animal activist and manager of a shelter north of Brisbane, who said they wanted to take the cow to their sanctuary where it would be safe.
On the other, a red-bearded farmer with a mud-stained Akubra, who claimed he knew the cow’s rightful owner.
Police were involved in the ongoing beef.
Caught in the middle was the cow herself, looking ‘udderly’ out of place on the white, sandy shores of Duranbah Beach.
At least she milked up the attention from the huge crowd of onlookers.
Witnesses told the Bulletin a teen on the beach startled the animal, causing it to flee to nearby streets. Members of the public attempted to secure it in an enclosed area.
She made a miraculous escape from the clutches of the recent floods, but Carol Slater of Farm Animal Rescue said the cow was “stressed, fatigued and may have lost a calf.”
“The reality is the cow will ultimately be killed for food and we are advocating for her to be saved,” she said.
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“We’d like to take her to a safe place where she can live in peace. She’s been through quite an ordeal.”
“We have called the relevant authorities including department of agriculture and department of primary industries.
“I was given verbal permission to move the cow across the border and take her to the sanctuary but I’m arriving here and it’s a different story.
“There’s people everywhere and she’s really hard to catch.”
The farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, said the cow’s owner was John Besgrove, a cattle farmer from Cobaki.
“This cattle would be worth close to $2,500 and I really don’t trust this ‘so called animal rescue’,” he said.
“They (the sanctuary) are driving a hired horse float from U-Haul and don’t have the right vehicle to tow it. It’s a Delica van and it all seems a bit suss.
“Every cow should have the relevant microchip, an NLIS. So the cow will be identified by its rightful owner.
“I’ve spoken with the owner on the phone and he has spoken to police. It’s his property so he has the right to reclaim it.”
Police had left the scene and helicopters were conducting regular patrols of the beach.
More to come...
EARLIER: Stunned beachgoers have stumbled upon a rare sight at a popular southern Gold Coast surf spot, with a live cow seen on the loose after being caught up in floodwaters.
Reports of the livestock at Duranbah Beach at the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads border emerged early Tuesday morning, as locals made the most of a sunny start to the day amid recent torrential downpour.
It is believed the animal became stranded in the area in the wake of the devastating floods across Northern New South Wales.
Resident Deborah Bates came across the animal while out in Coolangatta surveying the debris from local waterways.
“Apparently this cow has come down the flooded waterways, with numerous others, from possibly Tumbulgum or Mbah into the head … and survived,” Ms Bates wrote.
“I just spoke to someone who saw the cow caught at the (headlands) heading out to the ocean thinking it wouldn’t survive … But it did.”
Meanwhile, Christine Howard shared online that she had witnessed a cow – believed to be the same one – roaming through the Point Danger area and Boundary St.
Footage supplied to The Bulletin also shows stunned onlookers watching on as the cow, tailed by NSW police, passes by packed cafe Little Mali at Coolangatta.
Footage from Channel Nine showed the cow had since ventured to the sand at popular surf spot Dbah, where the likes of champion surfers Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning often take to the waves.
It is understood the animal is not in distress and rescue crews are in the midst of figuring out who the animal belongs to.
Sadly another cow was found dead at Broadbeach this morning.
It comes as The Department of Environment and Science (DES) urges residents in flood-affected areas to watch out for wildlife as clean-up efforts commence.
“Due to recent river and flash flooding across parts of Queensland, wild animals, including snakes and goannas, may have been displaced or injured by flood waters or may be found in unusual places while seeking shelter from the heavy rain,” the spokesman said.
“While cleaning up, residents should wear enclosed footwear, gloves and suitable clothing and thoroughly check under furniture or other objects where wildlife could be conceal.”
‘Inundated with calls’: Warning over rogue croc pic
February 28: Authorities say they have been “inundated with calls” after an “untrue” social media post began circulating claiming a crocodile had escaped from a Gold Coast wildlife park.
Queensland Environment issued a warning on Facebook for those continuing to circulate the image.
On Monday, a snap of the “crocodile” was shared to a Palm Beach community Facebook page with the caption “the big croc home to Fleays Wildlife has escaped and is on the loose. So be careful because it’s made its way (to) Tallebudgera.”
A Department of Environment and Science spokesman confirmed the picture was likely a fake.
“You can tell because the croc has most of its tail missing,” he said.
The spokesman said the freshwater crocodiles at David Fleays Wildlife Park in Burleigh Heads were secure.
The saltwater crocodiles at the park remain at Australia Zoo while their enclosure is being upgraded.
Later on Monday, Queensland Environment said the image was believed to be either photoshopped or was an image of a toy crocodile.
“However we will take a cautious approach and continue to investigate the image,” it said.
“Members of the public are always encouraged to report actual sightings promptly in the interests of a public safety.
“Please let anyone who has shared the image know so we can stop the spread of misinformation and help our amazing emergency services teams focus.”
A popular Instagram meme page, Browncardigan, later uploaded a spoof video of man wrestling a toy crocodile in reference to the infamous picture.
Many social media investigators also took it upon themselves to debunk the picture.
“No way would a croc sit that high in the water anyway,” one Facebook user commented on the post.
“Nothing surprises me anymore,” another added.
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