- Source: La Voz del Interior (Cordoba, Argentina) July
3, 2002
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- SENASA Explanation Found Unconvincing In Río Cuarto
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- RIO Cuarto - Researchers at the Universidad Nacional
De Rio Cuarto reiterated yesterday that the calf found mutilated yesterday
in Berrotarán presented "clean incisions" in its hide,
thus discarding any attacks by predators. They stated that "in principle,
the conclusions applied by SENASA cannot be applied," referring to
the University of Tandil's report which fingered the red-muzzled mouse
(oxymycterus rufus) as the principal culprit in the cattle mutilations.
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- Jaime Polop, a specialist in Rodent Ecology with the
National University of Rio Cuarto, stated that the presence of this type
of mouse is "minimal" in the southern provinces and expressed
doubts regarding the possibility that this animal is the key to unlocking
the natiowide mystery. Polop is an associate professor of Natural Sciences
in the School of Mathematics, has 22 years experience as a tenured researcher
at UNRC ahd has spent over 24 years studying rodents. He declared that
while the red-muzzle mouse is omnivorous and feeds on vegetable and animal
organic matter, it is "very rare" that it should consume carrion.
"The information from the Univ. of Tandil is the first we've received
regarding this type of behavior by oxymycterus. There is no scientific
background information in this regard," he said with caution.
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- Without wanting to dispute SENASA's report, Polop limited
himself to saying that in the globality of cases registered in the country
there could be different cases for the mutilations. Polop did address,
however, the subject of the sheer number of rodents which would have been
needed to produce the lesions found on the cows and rejected the possibility
that these mice could produce clean incisions in the hides of other animals
to feed on them. "The oxymycterus has chisel-shaped teeth, and it
is impossible for that type of dentition to produce clean cuts on animal
hides. It's bite is similar to any mouse chewing through would, which
would never be mistaken for a surgical implement," he defined.
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- He also noted that the muzzled mouse "is not a
predator": "Normally, when a predator such as a fox begins [by
eating] the entrails, it continues to feed from the same open wound. To
find lesions on the mouth, abdomen, and anus, and to see this pattern
repeating itself, draws my attention considerably," added Polop.
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- Meanwhile, another mutilated bovine, missing eyes and
genitals--characteristics similar to other finds in other provinces--was
discovered late yesterday in the town of San Pedro, Department of Santa
Rosa, 150 km from the provincial seat. The National Health and Agroalimentary
Service (SENASA) confirmed that "a Commission is working in the area
to determine the discovery of a mutilated bovine animal."
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- Translation (C) 2002 Scott Corrales, Institute of Hispanic
Ufology. Special thanks to Alicia Rossi. >
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