Animal Welfare Department Rescues Abandoned Livestock After Kerala Landslides

Massive landslides in Kerala have left many domestic animals ownerless. The Animal Welfare Department, with aid from NGOs, is providing food and water, and will rehome these animals with willing dairy farmers. A control room is set up for recording details, and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing.

Massive landslides in Kerala's northern district have not only caused human casualties but have also left many domestic animals and livestock without owners. These animals, seen roaming disaster-stricken areas, will now be rehabilitated by the Animal Welfare Department, which has announced plans to hand them over to nearby dairy farmers.

The department has established a 24-hour control room at Chooralmala to log the names of farmers willing to adopt the animals. So far, NGOs and volunteers have been providing food and water to these stranded animals.

In a statement, the district administration confirmed that domestic animals found alive or deceased, from areas such as Chooralmala and Mundakkai, will be collected and further action taken from the control room. Recently, two puppies from Chooralmala were handed over to the military and police special defense group.

A team of veterinarians and field officers is working around the clock to care for the animals. Initial estimates report a Rs 2.5 crore loss in the animal husbandry sector, including destroyed cattle sheds and missing livestock. Efforts to rehabilitate stray animals are being coordinated with the Brahmagiri Development Society.