It is no surprise that stock farmers are fed-up with the ‘brutality’ of stock thieves when one sees images like this.

Speaking to the Chairperson of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum, Willie Clack, one can clearly hear the impact this is having. Farmers are regularly confronted with scenes that look like they belong in a Hollywood horror movie.

Clack explains that the thieves have no qualms about killing pregnant animals just days away from giving birth, leaving behind the remains of fully formed lambs.

One cruel technique is to sever the leg tendons of animals to prevent them from escaping while the thieves are busy butchering. This animal was later humanely euthanased.

He says it is more than just the financial implications, which are significant for stock farmers. He says it is also emotionally traumatic for the farmers to be confronted with scenes like this:

Or this…

Clack says they believe it is necessary to start sharing these graphic images with the public at large in the hope that the issue will then get the same kind of response as we are seeing in the fight against rhino poaching.