Cow Laura, while coping as best as possible under the circumstances, remains highly stressed and wary around people, leading her to continue isolating herself from other animals.
Manager Erwin of the ‘t Wooldrik petting zoo in Enschede, Netherlands, is still reeling from the shocking discovery of a 59-year-old illegal Turkish migrant, Mehmet, engaged in sexual acts with cow Laura, constituting rape. “When I discovered it, a lot went through my mind,” Erwin expressed.
In the latter half of 2023, Erwin noticed unsettling occurrences on the premises, such as scattered plastic bags and cardboard placed over fences. His intuition, honed from years of working with animals, signaled that something was amiss with Laura, who was acting differently.
Responding to these suspicions, Erwin decided to enhance the existing surveillance cameras, one of which was directed at the cow stable. Through this surveillance, he uncovered the disturbing truth: the Turkish illegal was entering the petting zoo after hours, coaxing cow Laura into a stable. “Afterward, he emerged adjusting his pants,” Erwin lamented. On January 29, another camera alert prompted Erwin’s attention.
Once again, his instincts proved correct. Yet another unauthorized presence was detected at the zoo. Acting swiftly alongside alerted authorities, Erwin nearly apprehended Mehmet in the act of raping her. “His bike was still there, and he was still inside the stable,” Erwin recounted with frustration.
Cow Laura, examined by a veterinarian, is coping as best as possible under the circumstances, though she still isolates herself from other animals. Much to the sorrow of Erwin and his team, Laura also remains “highly stressed and wary around people.”
The revelation that the illegal may have frequented the zoo before and possibly engaged in similar acts deeply unsettles Erwin. “It makes me so frustrated and angry,” he expressed, highlighting the profound impact this has had on his colleagues.
The National Expertise Center for Animal Abuse, which investigates such cases, deems such acts morally reprehensible. Coordinator Nienke Endenburg emphasized the gravity of animal abuse, noting instances of similar atrocities against horses, cows, and dogs. She underscored the need for swift and decisive action to combat such heinous acts. As previously reported by the RAIR Foundation USA, a Muslim migrant in France, who had 24 prior convictions, was sentenced to 4 years in prison for raping and kidnapping Flicka, an eight-month-old female Samoyed dog.
Following the assault, Mehmet was arrested and subsequently deported to Istanbul. According to a close friend, Mehmet received “thousands of euros in compensation from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). He now resides in northern Turkey.
Concerns arise about Mehmet’s past in the Netherlands. In 2020, the court in Zwolle ruled against renewing his residence permit, which was later upheld on appeal. Throughout this period, Mehmet frequently caused disturbances in Enschede. He had been stopped multiple times and was arrested in 2019 with over 6 kilograms of cannabis in his possession.
Erwin expressed surprise at Mehmet’s evasion of punishment. “The fact that this can happen is simply outrageous. A creature like Laura also has feelings,” he emphasized. “Laura remains highly stressed and wary around people.”