UFOs in the daily Press:

SENASA Explanation Found Unconvincing in Río Cuarto

Río 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 admitted in this case 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.

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 nationwide 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.

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.

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.

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."