Animal abuse in Switzerland has risen to record levels, amid growing fears over an increase in sex attacks on horses.
The country's foundation for animal law, Tier im Recht, revealed the number of general maltreatment cases last year was 1,709 - up from 1,542 over the previous 12 months.
Andreas Rüttimann, a legal expert with the organisation, said there were particular concerns about cases involving horses.
He told The Local that zoophiles - people sexually fixated with animals - were implicated in almost 10 per cent of those equine-related cases.
“This rate is relatively elevated compared with other types of animals,” he said.
“A total of 105 cases of animal cruelty to horses were registered last year, up considerably from previous years but probably below the actual number of incidents.”
Switzerland's 20 Minuten newspaper reported that experts believe there are up to 10,000 people in Switzerland “predisposed” to zoophilia.
