Nepal Earthquake: Kathmandu Zoo Animals Safe; Scores of Dogs, Cats Dead, Say Animal Welfare Groups
Two days after a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake ravaged Nepal, killing more than 3,500 people, there is still little news about its impact on animals in the region.
Humane Society International, which has kept an animal rescue team on the ready to be sent to the earthquake-hit country, said its members in Nepal have found that animals at a zoo in Kathmandu are safe.
However, there is no news yet about the fate of other animals in the quake-hit region, especially of dogs and livestock which may have perished in the natural disaster, Rahul Sehgal, Asia Director of HSI, told IBTimes India.
"Our members in Nepal, who have themselves been badly affected, have told us to put our animal rescue teams from India on hold as there is complete chaos at the moment," Sehgal said.
"Because this was an urban disaster, several pets, street dogs and livestock may have been killed, injured or abandoned. But we are still not sure of the numbers, he said.
"Local organisations are reporting shock, blunt force injuries and death among the thousands of street dogs and cats in their communities. Residents are rushing to locate backyard farm animals and pets, but there are no temporary sheltering solutions available for them even when found," Bhagat said.
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/nepal-earthquake-kathmandu-zoo-animals-safe-scores-dogs-cats-dead-say-animal-welfare-groups-630568
____________________________
God help the people and their animals. 