Tsunami Animal Rescue Situation Report 17 Jan

WSPA SOUTH EAST ASIA
TSUNAMI ANIMAL RESCUE SITUATION REPORT 17 JAN
Animal rescue action in association with WSPA member societies

INDIA

Companion Animals:
Confirmation that 80 dogs have been killed in Nagapattinam
Farm Animals:
Many roaming cattle and goats are now missing; AHD providing free fodder to Blue Cross (BC), BC us in turn offering it to local NGOs; Indian Bank compound in Nagapattinam has offered BC use of its parking to use as a storage point; Larger problem looms as cattle has ingested large amounts of plastic.
Animal Welfare Activity:
AHD in Nagapattinam has offered Blue Cross the use of its government vet hospital. The hospital has been set up as a clinic for rescued animals which the Blue Cross are now treating. Blue Cross has four vehicles at its disposal to transport fodder and injured animals to the clinic.
Meeting held between Blue Cross India and Commonwealth Veterinary Association to discuss situation, assess needs and resources.
A Tsunami Animal Relief Task Force has been established as a central body of all groups. This is led by Dr Chinny and Dr Rahman of Blue Cross and Commonwealth Veterinary Association.
Short term measures include; stock vaccines, project on rehabilitation of farmers and fishermen, project on ecological imbalance.
A massive vaccination programme around Chennai (cattle, dogs and goats) has been set up as well as providing feed and clean water.
AVAR (Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights) are co-ordinating vets to India.

THAILAND

Animal Welfare Activity:
Thai AGA and other animal welfare organizations have set up a temporary shelter in Kao Lak areas. The HIS is providing funds for continuing dog feeding and rebuilding shelters and vet facilities.
PAWS are attending meeting for animal welfare stakeholders.
The Soi Dog foundation has enough food for short term requirements
Wildlife Friends of Thailand is also attending meeting for animal welfare stakeholders
IFAW providing companion animal and livestock food and medicine.
Animals Asia has been working with Soi Dogs (foundation for stray dogs

INDONESIA

Farm and Companion Animals:
Reports from the Red Cross and Indonesian Army of dogs scavenging on bodies. (WSPA rescue team has confirmed likelihood of this happening). Local eyewitness accounts of decline in cat population. WSPA team observers suggest most companion and farm animals in devastated areas have drowned. Surviving animals such as dogs, cows, water buffalo, goats, chickens and ducks are either scavenging or being looked after by new owners. Small-holdings in areas outside devastated areas are completely intact. The Ministry of Agriculture has been destroyed and ten vets are confirmed among the dead. Iskander University has become a safe haven for dogs.
Veterinary facilities at Banda Aceh has been set up.
The WSPA team has seen cows, goats, dogs, cats and geese and at this stage says that there is no critical welfare need and that there is a small risk of rabies among stray dogs.

Wildlife

Elephants: These are being used in the clean up operation as in Thailand and are being cared for by bymahouts and vets. There are no welfare concerns at this stage.

Orangutans: None harmed however the resources for the reconstruction of Bana Aceh are likely to come from Orangutan habitats as this is the nearest timber source.

Tigers: MS Pro Fauna International reports that the tsunami killed two Sumatran tigers. A tiger at a forestry holding facility was shot for security reasons.

Turtles: Flora and Fauna international report dead turtles along the Aceh coast. Many nesting sites have been destroyed.

Crocodiles: A crocodile at the forestry holding facility escaped during the tsunai.

Fish, Coral Reefs and Mangrove Swamps: Many reefs and swamps have been uprooted. Dead fish found 6km inland.

Animal Welfare Activity
Bali Street Dog Foundation together with the WSPA rescue team are in Banda Aceh.
Other welfare and Eco societies are working together in the region.

SRI LANKA

Companion Animals:
Sri Lanka’s South-South Eastern regions were the most affected by the tsunami.
The WSPA disaster relief team is being led by Gerardo Huertas who is accompanied by a vet, driver and assistant from private vet clinic Pets V care to assess the impact of the tsunami.The team will also be vaccinating dogs against rabies and mange.
North of Colombo
A 2:1 male:female dog ratio has been observed. 196 rabies vaccines have been administered.
South of Colombo
This is a poor area where there has been incredible wholesale destruction of 90% of beach villages, housing, businesses and hotels. Many young dogs 7-22 months old are on the streets sitting in front of inhabited houses. Approx 50% have serious mange. 9 out of 10 dogs are in good shape. Locals have been feeding dogs scraps. Nearly all dogs observed are loose.
This is in contrast to observations in northern Colombo. Southern dogs are not accustomed to handling.
WSPA disaster team also visited three evacuation camps which had 450-550 people in each which represents around 150 families. There was no significant over population problems with dogs at these camps. 40 animals were vaccinated in each camp and around 400 dogs were counted as suffering from severe mange.
The WSPA disaster team is meeting with PetVCare teams from the Central-North East regions as there is currently conflicting information from Relief International about aggressive dog packs in the area.

Farm Animals
To date, the cattle observed seem to be in fair condition and are roaming loose. There is a shortage of fresh water in the area.

Wildlife
An associated press photographer who flew over Yala National Park in an air force helicopter observed abundant wildlilfe and not a single corpse. The park covers and area of 391 sq. miles.

Animal Welfare Activity
Animal welfare organisations, WSPA and member societies are working together. The focus is a vaccination programme in the worst hit areas. Welfare organizations are operating 24 hour vet clinics and 25 US vets have offered their services covering own expenses to help out once an overall strategy has been established.
Vaccines and vets are being funded by donations from Best Friends Animal Society in Trincomoleein in the east.

ENDS

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