It’s always difficult for us to hear about the inevitable suffering animals face in the wake of a disaster, but we were particularly shocked by the brutal, and seemingly needless, attack on hundreds of animals
caught at the heart of a violent feud between local communities in the Tana Delta River district of Kenya, last month.
In the single, most violent incident to have happened in the region for the last 4 years, humans and animals were attacked with machetes and spears, leaving 48 people and over 600 livestock dead. The conflict was a result of a long-standing dispute between the Orma pastoralist community and
the Pokomo farming community over grazing rights for cattle.
Upon arriving at the scene, WSPA’s veterinary response team from the University of Nairobi found a number of animals beyond help. Sadly, the team was left with no choice but to advise elders of the community to slaughter their animals to prevent any further suffering. The remaining animals received urgent medical treatment and should go on to make a full recovery. After 5 tough days, the team left the
scene, leaving behind enough food to sustain the animals whilst they recover from this brutal event.
