Geronimo the Alpaca - whose fate prompted a nationwide campaign against his planned killing- has been euthanised after a court-ordered destruction warrant was carried out following the animal twice testing positive for bovine tuberculosis.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs anounced his fate just after midday on Tuesday, following ugly scenes at the farm which was his home, where supportrs grappled with police as Geronimo was removed in a horse-box by officials.
The Alpaca's hours looked numbered earlier in the day when police officers removed the condemned animal from his Gloucesteshire paddock ahead of him being put down by officials.
Uniformed officers accompanied by three people dressed in blue overalls, masks and goggles, took the alpaca from his farm in Wickwar following a series of brief confrontations with his supporters.
Geronimo’s death came just days before a warrant for his destruction issued by the High Court expires on Sep 4.
Officials arrived mid-morning with a horse-box style animal carrier and a person in blue overalls was seen tying a rope around the animal.
But webcam footage showed Geronimo making a break for freedom by running into a field with other alpacas.
Several officials followed it carrying rope and chased the pack around the meadow before Geronimo was eventually led back into his barn.
The alpaca has twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, which owner Helen Macdonald believes are false positives.
She has long argued that the Enferplex test is fundamentally flawed and says Geronimo tested positive because he had repeatedly been primed with tuberculin - a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.
His fate has aroused widespread anger, with Ms Macdonald’s supporters gathering at the farm to protect him and animal lovers around the country rallying to his support.
The veterinary nurse, who has farms a 70-strong herd of alpapacas, has received support from around the world - with more than 140,000 people signing a petition against Geronimo's destruction.
Police entered Geronimo's pen at the farm in Wickwar, Gloucestershire, with their actions broadcast on an online live feed of the enclosure.
Ms Macdonald was not seen at the farm today, and was not currently answering calls, but she did sent a text message stating: "They took him alive, get after Defra".
Today her twitter account @alpacapower tweeted: ''DEFRA have arrived!We are asking once again for an urgent meeting with George Eustice. Please don't execute Geronimo.''
There were angry scenes as police grappled with Geronimo’s self-appointed defenders, with footage and photographs showing one bearded man being pulled away by officers and they tried to gain access to the alpaca’s paddock.
A nurse named Liz Stacey was arrested after spraying police officers with a water pistol. She was then quickly 'de-arrested.'
Other alpacas on the farm, which are not in the same pen, gathered nearby when the commotion started before running off to another part of the farm.
Officers are currently standing in a line at the edge of the pen while several journalists are also present.
Two officers wearing light-blue vests were confronted by other members of the public carrying a We Are Geronimo banner, erected by campaigners opposing the destruction of the animal.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that officers have arrived at the farm where Geronimo is staying.
A force spokesman said: "We can confirm officers are in attendance at a farm in the Wickwar area of South Gloucestershire this morning to support the Animal and Plant Health Agency, who are executing a court warrant.
"We'll always support our partner agencies to carry out their lawful duties, and our role is to prevent a breach of the peace and to ensure public safety is protected."
Geronimo dragged away, in pictures
Alpaca's owner's final bid to save Geronimo
The owner of Geronimo the alpaca last week called for an urgent meeting with the Government as time runs out for him to be culled.
She told The Telegraph earlier this month that waiting for officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to arrive to carry out his destruction was “agony”, saying: “It’s like a form of mental torture. My mum hasn’t slept for weeks because of the tension and anxiety. I haven’t either. It’s a living nightmare, waiting for them to turn up.”
Ms Macdonald wants the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to allow Geronimo to be tested for a third time or let him live to aid research into the disease.
She has long argued that the Enferplex test is fundamentally flawed and says Geronimo tested positive because he had repeatedly been primed with tuberculin - a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.
The veterinary nurse, who farms alpacas at her home in Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, has received support from around the world - with more than 140,000 people signing a petition against Geronimo's destruction.
Earlier this month, a High Court judge refused her lawyer's application for a temporary injunction to stop the destruction order and reopen the case.
Ms Macdonald said that when Defra officials do attend her farm to euthanise Geronimo, she would not break the law.
Supporters have spent days camping out at her farm in case officials arrive to destroy him.
They have been receiving regular deliveries of supplies from well-wishers, including tea bags, coffee, sugar, and vegan food.
As well as alpacas, badgers have been a victim of the fight against bovine TB, with mass culling employed to stop the spread since 2013, sparking a huge public backlash.
The Government insists that all the evidence on the animal's condition has been "looked at very carefully".
A Defra spokesman said: "We are sympathetic to Ms Macdonald's situation - just as we are with everyone with animals affected by this terrible disease.
"While nobody wants to cull animals, we need to do everything we can tackle this disease to stop it spreading and to protect the livelihoods of those affected."