World Animal Protection team brings critically needed food aid to animals in flood-ravaged Thai province
News
Recent torrential rains and an overflowing reservoir have inundated the northeastern Thai province of Sakonnakhon, with farmers struggling to keep themselves and their animals alive as they cope with the area’s worst floods in 43 years.
Working with local agencies
World Animal Protection has deployed to the field and is working with the local government and the Department of Livestock Development to deliver feed to more than 24,000 cattle and water buffalo.
For many families, the floods have all but destroyed their crops for this season. World Animal Protection identified the neediest animals and famers and has provided 120 tons of pineapple silage and 40 cubic tons of roughage to keep livestock fed during the worst of the disaster. The charity has also provided about 100 kg of dog and cat food, as there are many hungry pets in the province.
Most of the area affected is farmland and rice paddies. Farmers need animals to help plough fields and transport rice and agricultural goods to market. The lives of local people and animals are closely intertwined, and the World Animal Protection team has met many farmers who were clearly very worried about their animals.
Mrs. Uraiwan Pansena, 33, is a farmer in a small village named Ban Nongcan. She described how the floods have enveloped all of her crops, and she struggles to keep her seven cows and three water buffalos fed while also tending to her ten family members. “I have no way to support them all. I may be forced to sell off my animals but then what will I do when the money runs out?” she said.
The region has been without electricity for over a week
Livestock are crammed into overflowing evacuation camps where, despite everyone’s best efforts, conditions are becoming unsanitary. The farmers worry that the stress of the floods as well as the cramped and unsanitary conditions will sicken their animals. Mr. Banyat Thonhamkaew, head of a local livestock association, explained: “If our animals fall ill, we’ll be unable to even sell them. They are our investments that we bought with bank loans and for many of us, the only investments we have.” Mr. Thonkamkaew went on to say that the banks were expecting repayment in five months which only adds to their stress.
The World Animal Protection team was led by Dr, Naritsorn Pholperm, Disaster Management project manager in Thailand. He said, “We’ve seen heart-breaking scenes of animals and their owners trying to survive this awful flood. The only consolation is that we, along with the government and other NGOs, are here trying to make their lives a little easier.”