The Kerala government has launched a special mission to protect orphaned birds and animals, including pets and cattle, in the landslide-hit Wayanad and provide all care for them until they are adopted or sent to foster homes.

Animal husbandry minister J. Chinchurani said in a statement that all birds and animals, including pets and cattle, in Mundakkai and Chooralmala villages and surrounding areas affected by Tuesday’s landslides would be sheltered and provided medical care, if needed, by the animal husbandry department.

This comes as many birds and animals including cattle, dogs, cats and even hens
have been rescued from the landslide-hit areas since Tuesday.

“Isolated animals have already been moved to nearby facilities,” she said, apparently citing several pets and cattle that were rescued from areas that were cut off by the landslides, pulled out from water bodies or the slimy mass of mud that the two villages have been reduced to.

“Volunteers from the Thiruvananthapuram-based People for Animal voluntary group are taking care of pet animals found there (in Wayanad),” the minister stated.

The department has rolled out a programme to feed cattle rescued from the area and moved to the animal husbandry facility.

“Almost a hundred cattle have died so far, although no accurate data is still available. Milk production has shrunk by about 12,420 litres per day in the district,” she said, citing the possibility of more heads of cattle being either missing or dead.

Abandoned cattle have been shifted to nearby shelters where they are being cared for. Various private and state government companies and the milk marketing federation have donated cattle feed to the facility.