Graphic video of goat beheading near Tulane University spurs investigation

A graphic YouTube video that shows two students from Tulane University beheading a goat has caused outrage on social media and sparked an investigation by the university. The 14-second video shows five men standing around a goat hanged inside a child’s plastic swimming pool, and then behead it using a machete. This is the second goat beheading to happen in New Orleans this year. less A graphic YouTube video that shows two students from Tulane University beheading a goat has caused outrage on social media and sparked an investigation by the university. The 14-second video shows five men ... more Photo: YouTube Screenshots Photo: YouTube Screenshots Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Graphic video of goat beheading near Tulane University spurs investigation 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

A graphic YouTube video that allegedly shows two students from Tulane University beheading a goat has caused outrage on social media and sparked an investigation by the university.

The video was released to the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Tuesday, but it appeared on YouTube Wednesday, garnering more than 94,700 views by Thursday morning.

The 14-second video shows five men standing around the goat while it is hanging from a line above a small plastic swimming pool. Seconds into the video, a man uses a machete to behead the goat, while the audience cheers and records the act with cell phones.

On Wednesday, the Louisiana SPCA received a tip that the goat’s body was seen in a backyard of a house located in the 700 block of Broadway Street, minutes from Tulane’s main campus, but police “did not discover any evidence linking the cellphone video,” according to a press release by SPCA.

The press release adds that the New Orleans Police Department has not launched an official investigation, but a statement from Tulane states the university is “fully investigating this matter.”

“At this time we have no evidence to suggest that this video involves or is related to any member of the Tulane community,” the statement reads.

This is the second goat beheading to happen this year, according to New Orleans’ The Advocate. The first occurred in January, when 3-month-old pygmy goat Calvin was found beheaded in a park. Calvin’s head, as well as his brother, Jack, are still missing.

“We don’t believe that these are at all related,” SPCA spokeswoman Alicia Haefele told The Advocate about the two beheadings. “But we’re wanting to know now whether this is painting a bigger picture that there is an issue about how people are treating goats in our area.”

SPCA is asking those with any information to call the Tulane Police Department at 504-865-5381 the SPCA at 504-368-5191, ext. 100.

rsalinas@mysa.com