(CN) Livestock took biggest quake hit

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2008:

 

 

Livestock took biggest quake hit

 

CHENGDU--The most numerous sentient victims of the May 12,

2008 Sichuan earthquake were livestock. Fourteen million chickens

and rabbits, 3.8 million pigs, 178,000 goats, and 60,000 cows died

in collapsed or inaccessible barns, the Chinese agriculture ministry

updated on June 4, nearly doubling the estimate of pig losses.

Sichuan pig slaughter will drop 10% in 2008 due to the

earthquake, the agriculture ministry estimated.

" Our headquarters for all of China is in Chengdu, " said

Heifer International spokesperson Ashley Michael, acknowledging that

personnel and facilities had been shaken, but mentioning no deaths

among the staff at the 28 Heifer International projects in Sichuan.

Pledging to help rebuild the region's livestock industry, Heifer

International commenced fundraising for earthquake response almost

immediately.

Edward Wong of The New York Times appeared to be the only

reporter at the earthquake scene who mentioned anyone helping the

livestock victims, if only to slaughter the animals later. " A

farmer returning to look at his home told me he had found some pigs

still alive and fed them corn, " wrote Wong on May 25. " He wanted to

come back for them in five or six days. "

Wong and his driver, a Mr. Yu, rescued a brown puppy who

was wearing a red ribbon, found amid the rubble of collapsed

apartment blocks.

 

 

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

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