A farmer has documented the rescue of one of his alpacas that had become so wedged between a fence and a shed overnight it was struggling to breathe.
Josh Hyson, who runs Dartmoor Reach Alpaca Farm in Devon with wife Natalie, initially believed the alpaca had escaped having left the herd on Thursday (February 8). But what actually happened was more upsetting as the female alpaca had become trapped in the farm's wire fencing and was unable to free itself.
The father-of-two said he discovered alpaca Fanny Ann the following morning on the farm, near Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor, but she'd already spent the night out in the freezing rain and was "hardly able to breathe". After cutting through the wire to save her, he is hopeful she will pull through.
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In a video he recorded documenting the rescue, which can be seen at the top of this page, Mr Hyson said: "At nightfall I put the alpacas in and had a count up and realised there was one missing. First thing this morning I've come out to look for the missing alpaca and I've found it trapped in-between a field shelter and a fence."
He said it was "urgent" as he cut away the fence to release her. Initially Fanny Ann can be seen struggling to move but as the difficult video progresses she regains some of her balance and starts standing and even walking.
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"It is so lucky that I found her," he said. "Part of me just thought she might have escaped through a hole in the hedge but generally alpacas don't like to be alone which made me think she hadn't."
He said it was too early to guarantee the alpaca would be okay because of their stoic nature which generally means they don't show signs they are feeling unwell - but they are hopeful she will make a full recovery. "For her to be up and eating is the best thing she can do now," he added.
