Goat-riding monkey raids farm
The thieves at work.
A Chinese farmer has claimed that a monkey riding a goat is persistently sneaking onto his land and stealing his vegetables.
Ye Shu of Donguan, Guangdong Province has blamed animals from a nearby circus for the thefts. Mr Ye claims that the pair are sneaking onto his land on a daily basis, eating some of his vegetables and damaging many others.
According to his testimony, the monkey stands on the goat's back to gain a better vantage point from which to check the coast is clear before they start the day's raid.
"This has been going on for two weeks since the acrobatic troupe was first stationed here," he complained. "If the monkey sees that nobody is working in the field, he rides in on the goat and they start eating and causing trouble."
A spokesman for the circus conceded that the animals were not supervised after their part of the circuses' performance had concluded.
"We have compensated Ye Shu, and we are sorry for our neglect," said Wu Jun, the troupe leader. Mr Wu has announced that the circus will be recruiting animal keeps to prevent a repeat of the thefts.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
