At least 20 llamas missing from exotic animal farm. California cops suspect activists

Twenty to 30 llamas are on the lam after someone broke into a Southern California exotic animal farm early Monday to haul them away, KESQ reports.

The intruders, whom Riverside County authorities say may have been animal rights activists, also cut a gate lock to let other animals at the 14-acre farm at Orange Avenue and Murrieta Road in Perris escape, the Press-Enterprise newspaper in Riverside reported.

“We received a call about 6:30 a.m. regarding numerous llamas and emus walking on Orange,” said Deputy Robyn Flores, according to KCBS.

After rounding up the animals, farm owners and authorities realized 20 to 30 llamas remain missing and may have been hauled away, KESQ reported.

The farm has been the target of accusations on social media of abuse and neglect of llamas, emus, ostriches, water buffalo, and other livestock and birds, according to KCBS.

But Riverside County Animal Control officials say they investigated the farm after the complaints on Facebook and Instagram, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

“It was the rage on social media posts, and caused quite a number of calls to our agency,” said spokesman John Welsh, according to the publication. “It’s not a well-kept property, but we don’t have any evidence of animal abuse or neglect, whatsoever.”

The sheriff’s department asked that anyone with information contact the Perris office at 951-210-1000, KESQ reported.

This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 10:25 AM with the headline "At least 20 llamas missing from exotic animal farm. California cops suspect activists."