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AssetID: 36028414

Headline: Highland Cow Calf Spotted Eating Litter

Caption: PICTURE SHOWS: The Highland Cattle calf eats the paper litter (a tissue or a paper bag). ..... STORY COPY: These shocking pictures show a calf innocently eating litter. The troubling incident was spotted by Lorna Williamson in a farmer's field in Aberdeenshire this month. The Highland cattle calf at first seemed intrigued by what Lorna thinks was a large tissue or paper bag - but then, to her horror, the calf proceed to chew, then swallow, the item. The field contained a herd of Highland Cattle, including a bull, so it was not safe to intervene. Lorna went back to the field a few days later and, thankfully, the calf seemed unaffected by the incident. She now wants people to see the effect on animals and nature of carelessly discarded rubbish. She explains: "I had been out for a drive with my elderly neighbour who wanted to show me the cottage where she was brought up in Aberdeenshire. It was down a country road, and on the way to the cottage we passed a farm and a field with Highland Cattle and I noted there were calves. As a keen photographer I endeavoured to return to the farm to photograph the young calves. "It was a lovely sunny day and I was keen to photograph the cows in the sunlight, at this stage I noticed the bull. This I was surprised about as you don't usually see the bulls with cow and calf. While snapping away at the 'family', I notice there was a calf on it's own at the side of the field and in front of it appeared to be a couple of white paper bags or tissues. "The calf nuzzled at the paper at first and I thought it was just going to play with it like a cat or dog would do, but to my horror the calf picked it up and munched away and swallowed the paper bag/tissue. It didn't eat the second piece. I was at a loss what to do or if I could do anything. "There had been a young couple with small children also admiring the cows. I wasn't about to be a bad example to them and jump into the field of Highland Cattle and as the field is adjacent to the farm house. I know how sensitive farmers are about entering their fields, especially when there are young calves or lambs in the them. "Thinking about what happened after I returned home I was enraged with the situation that that was the result of people once again throwing their litter about. "Although I'm sure the calf will come to no harm as it wasn't plastic, I did get numerous folks informing me that this kind of thing happens all the time not only with cows but horses and dogs. "I want to highlight the plight of animals suffering because of human inconsideration. If I can do one small thing to change peoples habit it will all be worth it."

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