Animal Nepal's post-earthquake report

(Animal Nepal photo)

by Lucia de Vries, director, Animal Nepal

Re “No karmic bridge links the Nepal earthquake to Gadhi Mai” and “Nepal earthquake update from Jan Salter, founder, KAT Centre,” Animal Nepal, as well as Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust, really did an amazing job in the wake of the “twin quakes” that hit Nepal on April 25 and May 12, 2015. Close to 150.000 birds, 8000 buffaloes and cows and 14,500 pigs and goats died in the initial earthquake, and more after the strong aftershock. It is clear that it was the local organizations who managed to respond as effectively as possible to the overwhelming needs of the sick and injured livestock in the affected districts

With the help of two livestock vets from World Vets, Animal Nepal mobilized three teams to reach out to injured livestock in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Dhading and Sindhupalchowk. A total of 900 animals were treated, including 500 working equines, 150 farm animals in Lalitpur, 132 in Sindhupalchowk, and 80 in Dhading District.

A relatively low number of deaths and injuries were found among stray dogs. Animal Nepal treated twenty injury cases. However, many frightened pets lost their homes. A special website was set up to connect people who lost and found dogs after the earthquake. Ads were put in various newspapers.

Heifer Int Nepal now plans livestock clinics in five affected districts. Animal Nepal’s focus remains Lalitpur district, where we plan livestock and ABC (dog) camps in villages that are badly affected.