A llama farm in Gloucestershire has been forced to shut down for most of 2026 after a tuberculosis outbreak killed eight animals and left 27 others in isolation. Owner Lisa Fox described herself as 'heartbroken' after seven llamas were culled on her birthday under instruction from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
The outbreak began when a llama named Stardust fell ill and later died; a post-mortem confirmed TB, triggering testing across the herd. Seven more llamas tested positive and were put down to protect the rest. Twenty-seven remaining animals are in isolation and face further testing, with fears they may also be culled if results are positive.
Fox, who runs Briery Hill Llamas in Newent, said the farm's main income from llama trekking and therapy sessions has been halted because public access requires a three-metre distance. She must now wait for two rounds of clear tests, with the first skin test scheduled for July 10 and follow-up blood tests, before the farm can reopen—likely not until the end of 2026.
Although compensation is available for culled animals, Fox said it does not cover the £15,000 vet bill for Stardust or the loss of income. She has borrowed money from relatives to install electric fencing to reduce disease spread. She criticised the lack of government support, contrasting it with grants available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The llamas lost—Stardust, Pocket Rocket, Merlin, Rossi, Dylan, Troy, Querrida, and Baloo—had brought joy to many, Fox said. She urged a change in testing intervals, proposing 60 days instead of 90, to shorten the waiting period. 'We are expected to continue with no income and with no financial support,' she added.
