'Forgotten' animals rescued after Indonesia volcano eruption

As rescuers comb the ash-covered landscape looking for people after Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted earlier this month, volunteers are searching for even more vulnerable survivors: cats, cows and other animals.

The disaster killed 48 people, according to the latest toll, and rescuers are still seeking bodies in the mud and rubble.

As deadly ash destroyed villages in East Java's Lumajang district, at least 767 cows also died, while 648 sheep were killed in sheds and thousands of chickens were buried by the mudflow, according to authorities.

Satria Wardhana, along with a team of 15 volunteers from the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), has so far rescued and treated 76 cows and scores of goats and sheep abandoned by villagers who fled the area.

"We only evacuated animals who have owners. For strays, if they are injured, we treat them on the spot," Wardhana told AFP in Curah Kobokan, the village closest to the volcano.

The team evacuated two goats whose owners died and incinerated goat carcasses to prevent the spread of disease.

"We also... feed animals who survived, like chickens, dogs and cats," said Wardhana, who works in the disaster rescue division at COP.

Surviving cows, goats, sheep and cats have injuries such as burns on their ears and feet, said COP's veterinarian Dian Tresno Wikanti.

"Their ears are hairless as they burn easily. Many other animals also suffer from coughing," she said.

"Some of them are also stressed out and there's a goat that had a miscarriage. These animals are... dehydrated because it's hot here."

- 'Usually abandoned' -

The vet also goes door-to-door in some of Lumajang's villages, checking the condition of injured animals.

In Sumber Mujur, Wikanti treated a cat that was trapped under rubble for four days, its paws seared by lava.

The cat's owner, Ryan, said he was happy that his pet was able to get speedy medical treatment.

"I ran to save myself and I didn't have time to take the cat. The medical team... said it was traumatised, but it's getting better now," he said.

In the same village, volunteers treated two evacuated cows, applying burn ointment and injecting vitamins.

For the team, saving the lives of animals is a part of being human.

"Animals are usually abandoned because the main target of a rescue is humans. That's why we are rescuing those who are forgotten," Wikanti said.

Rescuing animals can also help lessen survivors' trauma, said Wardhana.

"Psychologically, they will be more at ease because... their animals also survived."

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Thousands briefly shut indoors on Spanish volcano island
Los Llanos De Aridane, Spain (AFP) Dec 13, 2021
Spain on Monday ordered more than 30,000 people to remain indoors on La Palma island for several hours because of toxic gases from a volcano that has been erupting for months. After several days of low-level activity, the Cumbre Viejo suddenly sprang to life on Sunday with several explosions sending a vast cloud of ash and smoke into the sky. The regional government of the Canary Islands, which lie off Africa's northwest coast, on Monday morning ordered residents of three municipalities to lock ... read more