More than a hundred sheep were found dead, deprived of water and food, abandoned by their breeder, in an isolated farm in Causse Méjean, in Lozère, legal sources said Monday (February 15th).
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"
The mass grave was discovered by the gendarmes
", explained the public prosecutor of Mende, Vincent Blériot, specifying having opened a judicial investigation for ill-treatment of animals, an offense punishable by one year of imprisonment.
According to the magistrate, however, it would not be willful abuse: the farmer, in his forties, was apparently "
in great psychological suffering, alone, without much support
", and it is because of these difficulties that he left his abandoned animals.
Installed on site for ten years, above the gorges of the Tarn, at a place called La Maxanne, in the heart of the new town of Massegros-Causses-Gorges, the breeder would have left for at least a few days, d 'where the "
state of decomposition
" of several beasts.
He would have gone to take refuge with his family and was hospitalized.
According to the Mende public prosecutor, between 150 to 200 sheep were found in this way, locked up in their sheepfold.
A few are believed to be still alive, but in a very poor condition.
The veterinary services were alerted and dispatched to the site.