UFOs in the daily Press:

MUTILATED COWS: Government comissioned a study - partially released - suspecting the presence of a toxic agent

In a report presented by Dr. Marta Paturlanne, a police expert and officer in charge of the Santa Isabel precinct of the Ministry of Production's Livestock Extension, suggesting that a narcotic or toxic element was present in some of the animals found out West. Why did the government not publicize this possibility? Also, it is not mentioned if these agents may have consequences on humans.

When the first mutilated animals appeared in the Pampan Region, Bernardo Cané, the director of SENASA, said that they were the consequence of "esoteric practices" and finally stated that the incisions were produced by the "red-muzzled mouse". Days later, the Minister of Production of La Pampa, Nestor Alcala, was kicking the stands: "That type of mouse does not exist in the region," he retorted, responding to a question posed by El Diario. Alcalá made his statement after having seen one of the official reports to which this newspaper later had access.

It is a report presented by Dr. Marta Paturlanne which posits that the lesions were not produced by known animals nor humans, and suggests another possibility: that the animals died upon breathing a toxic or narcotic agent. The report is in two folders with abundant explanations regarding the description of the anatomical/pathological lesions, but possible causes are suggested and photographs included the" La Pastoril Case" and "The Puesto de Sosa Case" in the western region of the province.Both describe the pattern lesions (defined by the Dept. of Pathology of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the National Univ. of La Pampa at General Pico). For example, in the "La Pastoril Case", the doctor describes the following characteristics:

• - the cow is missing facial musculature (jaw and upper molars) and the ocular globe and the left ear.
• - missing its pharynx, larynx, part of the trachea and its tongue.
• - one of the characteristics is the thorough cleaning of the Iodes bone, the bony base of the tongue.
• - in the first few days after death, carrion birds shy away from the animal and the characteristic nauseating odors are not present. After the animal decomposes, foxes and other predators approach.
• - absence of the mammary gland, perineum and vaginal tract.

Meanwhile, writes Paturlanne, the causes of death are not clear. She supposes that at least three animals died due to having breathed in a "caustic narcotic" or "toxic agent" because "dissection shows that the trachea and hard palate are affected." This would have produced a cessation of cardio-respiratory function. "The mucosae of the hard palate appears mutilated, even carbonized," she writes. In any event, no studies have been made to establish this point. On the other hand, the report points out that the incisions are not produced by carrion animals since these will not approach the carcass. Paturlanne makes no mention of mice, because the report was produced only days before SENASA's report become known. Yesterday, when questioned by El Diario, she said that "we have no mice or ants here - nothing."

The mouse theory is further mistrusted by Gustavo Siegenthaler, Director of the National Museum of History of La Pampa, and Alberto Pariani, academic secretary of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

The experts agree on the following, however:

• - the incisions follow a similar pattern: they appear with clean cuts on the ear, eyes, cheek, tongue, vagina, rectum and mammary gland, among others.
• - the incisions are made post mortem, since there is no evidence that the animals put up a fight.
• - most of the incisions appear between five and ten days after the animals' death. However, at least three cattlemen claim that they appeared from "one day to another" in dead and mutilated animals, according to the School of Veterinary Medicine at Pico.
• - the presence of narcotics, or firearm holes, or blows from heavy objects has not been detected.
• - poachers were not involved because the incisions are useless (with the exception of the tongue) and there are neither human nor animal tracks.
• - abnormal levels of radiation are not found at the mutilation sites, according to the Nuclear Activity Regulatory Authority, which conducted studies in Toay and Santa Rosa.

But who is making the incisions?

The hypotheses regarding the parties responsible for the mutilations are divided: SENASA and the Univ. del Centro de Buenos Aires at Tandil insist that "red-muzzled mice" and foxes were to blame. The Specialized Veterinary Diagnostic Service (SDVE) operating at the INTA's Experimental Station in Balcarce states that in all cases "the bovines died normally and the extirpations were simply the work of carrion animals."

• - Provincial Government agencies dismiss the possibility that the red-muzzled mouse could be to blame, since the species does not inhabit La Pampa.
• - Specialists from the Dept. of Pathology of the School of Veterinary Medecine of the National University of La Pampa also question the SENASA report.
• - The Uruguayan government prepared another report, stating that "yellow jackets" [wasps] are to blame.

From April to the present, 59 mutilated animals have been found in our province, according to police statistics. "The number of cases I am aware of are 46, with one or more animals involved in each event," said Inspector Adolfo Sanchez. The causes are labelled as "damage". For each animal, the average loss is of 300 pesos. "The mutilations do not have a delinquent origin in themselves. Some owners made reports and others didn't, and the Police participated to unravel [the mystery], since it is clear that theft has not been the motive here," added Sanchez.

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Aside from the theories presented by scientists, there are others. The hypotheses and suppositions range from alleged "genetic creations" like the Chupacabras to the presence of Umbanda-type sects, including a corporate plot to take over the properties in the region:

• - UFO researcher Fabio Zerpa suggests "alien scientists" are conducting research on the planet. This version is supported by multiple accounts which claim that "strange lights" can be seen in the sky, and the alleged absence of tracks around the mutilated animals.
• - Cults: the theory originally proposed by the Buenos Aires police.
• - Green Dwarves: there are those who say that a creature known as "the green dwarf" is roaming around the province. Residents claim it is between 50-60 cm tall, has a large head and ears, large green eyes, two legs and long arms.
• - Chupacabras: this creature would be half-bat, half-kangaroo and half Grey-alien and murders cattle. It has been described as about 1.20 m tall, weighing 32 kg. and with red eyes. It is said to jump or fly toward trees, attacking horses and chickens alike, draining their blood.
• - Corporate Conspiracy: some residents believe in a corporate conspiracy aimed at causing fear among the locals to force them to sell their land at low prices.
• - Aguara Guazú: a corpulent animal with long hands and legs native to Northern Argentina, but which occupied the banks of the Rio Colorado until the late 19th century. It has been dismissed since it feeds on small animals only.
• - CIA: this theory holds that the mutes are the work of the US Government, linked to some kind of research in biological warfare.