Two arrested in Argentina for theft and slaughter of local donkey

Two men, aged 32 and 36, have been detained and charged with cattle theft following the disappearance and slaughter of Manincho, a well-known five-year-old donkey in Aimogasta, La Rioja.

Manincho was a prominent figure in the local community, recognized as a world champion in the Donkey Festival and a regular participant in religious processions, including Palm Sunday celebrations. The investigation began after caretakers reported the animal missing from a corral in the Tiro Federal II neighborhood.

Police tracked evidence from the site to a farm on the outskirts of Barrancas de Otacio, where they discovered bloodstains and viscera. Subsequent raids in the Estación and Universitario neighborhoods led to the seizure of meat and the arrest of the two suspects, who remain at the disposal of the Instruction Court.