Believed to have died due to cold weather Reports of animal carcass samples expected in two days

The steep drop in temperature has resulted in the deaths of 1,660 cows, buffaloes and goats in the northern, eastern provinces so far.

By Yohan Perera and Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

Clinical reports of the animal carcass samples believed to have died as a result of cold weather are expected in two days time. a government veterinary specialist told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

   
Dr. A. R Gagani who is in charge of Government veterinary centres in Batticaloa and Ampara District said initial postmortem conducted had revealed that the probable cause of death is cold weather. 

“We are expecting the results of clinical tests on specimens of dead animal in two days time. We can therefore come to a final conclusion then,” she said.   

She said it had not been possible to come out with the exact number of animal deaths since some had died in jungle areas. “We have not been able to estimate the deaths accurately as the animals live everywhere even in the jungles,” she said in this regard.  Also she said there are sick animals in some areas including in the Ampara District with pneumonic signs.   

Earlier it was reported that around 1030 goats and cows have died of cold weather during the past few weeks. President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered the banning of meat transportation after the deaths of animals were reported.   

• Earlier it was reported that around 1030 goats and cows had died of cold weather during the past few weeks

Abattoirs’, meat stalls closed in EP to prevent possible sale of meat of animals which die due to cold weather

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

The Eastern Province Governor’s Office has ordered the closure of all abattoirs, butcheries and meat shops (except chicken stalls) for one week from yesterday, in order to prevent possible sale of meat of animals which perished due to the cold weather in the north and eastern provinces.   

They said the decision was made as per instruction of the EP Governor on Sunday (11) and the subsequent WhatsApp message sent on the above subject.   

According to the letter by the Commissioner of Local Government yesterday, there could be possibilities of illegal transportation of these carcasses to other districts under the guise of slaughtered animals and could be sold at meat stalls. Therefore, the decision was taken to prevent such a situation. 

 
Furthermore, the letter said the respective local authorities should take the responsibility or take action to bury all the carcasses of cattle in a public place to avoid illegal conveyance of such dead cattle.