Environmental inspectors have launched an investigation into a spate of illegal dumping of the bodies of dead animals in Co Tyrone.
There have been several incidents in rural areas of the county in recent weeks, with carcasses abandoned at roadsides.
Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), local residents and politicians have all warned of potential health risks as some of the dumps are close to waterways.
Kevin McElvogue, an Independent councillor in Clogher Valley, visited the site of a large illegal dumping ground a few miles outside the village of Clogher after being alerted by local residents.
A long, secluded stretch of country lane has been used for illegal fly tipping for many years, its verges littered with discarded household items, parts of vehicles, agricultural debris and melted rubber and metal from burnt tyres.
There are now also a large number of dead animals, including the rotting carcass of a cow dumped, alongside several sheep.
An unknown quantity of sheep and lambs have also been dumped in plastic bags.
"It was the smell that hit me first," Cllr McElvogue said.
He added: "It was shocking to see the body of a large cow just dumped at the side of the lane. I then cut open some large plastic bags and there were sheep inside them, it’s absolutely disgusting.
"I don’t know how many dead sheep have been dumped at that site but there are a lot of bags and a lot of flies around them, so I think there are probably a lot."
The councillor has dealt with calls about several other incidents of dumping of animal carcasses in the county in recent weeks.
They included the discovery of seven dead lambs in a large plastic bag by a seven-year-old boy while out with his family taking part in a community litter pick project near the village of Cappagh.
Last week, the carcass of a sheep was dumped at the side of a country road close to the village of Augher.
Cllr McElvogue is concerned about health risks as the carcasses dumped near Clogher village are close to a boggy area that flows into a ditch that runs through nearby farmland.
"It’s a big issue because we don't know how those animals died. If they died as a result of some sort of disease, you know, could they be contaminating the waterways, is it a risk to people, especially young children in the area, other animals and the environment.
"This kind of thing has been happening for years but there has been an increase in the last few weeks. I don't know why, but there seems to be a lot more of it.
"The people doing this need to catch themselves on. They are causing problems for people living close to these sites and to farmers in the area, and damaging the environment. It’s disgusting," he said.
"We wanted to live here because it's a lovely part of the countryside, and it’s a shame on the people who are illegally dumping here."
Adam Dunlop and his wife recently moved into the dream family home they built near Clogher.
It is now just a short walk from the illegal animal dumping ground.
He said the sights and the stench of rotting carcasses along the laneway are so bad that the couple cannot enjoy the countryside on their doorstep with their six-month-old daughter.
"It made me sick to be honest, you know, how anybody could do that so close to a property. When I saw the dead cow it made me sick to my stomach," he told BBC Northern Ireland.
"We wanted to live here because it’s a lovely part of the countryside, and it's a shame on the people who are illegally dumping here."
Another local resident said people living in the area no longer walk or cycle along the laneway because of the stench.
In Northern Ireland, responsibility for the recovery and disposal of fallen livestock lies with the animal owner, if that can be established or, if not, then the owner of the land on which a carcass is located.
It is understood that DAERA has to date not been able to establish ownership of the dead animals or the land on which they have been abandoned.
"DAERA is concerned to learn of the cases reported, an active investigation is presently being undertaken by inspectorate staff," a spokesperson said in a statement.
It added: "Animal by-products are a potential source of risk to public and animal health. Farmers have a legal obligation to dispose of animals in a safe and sustainable manner."
On public land or highways, responsibility for disposal rests with the local council, if ownership cannot be established.
A spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said it has also launched an investigation so no further comment could be made at this time.
