Over 200 Buffaloes Die Amidst Flooding in Chiang Rai, Government Assistance Sought.

CHIANG RAI: Villagers are distressed that more than 200 buffaloes raised in the Wiang Nong Lom buffalo farm in Chiang Rai Province have died one after another after flooding. They are appealing for the government to help. According to Thai News Agency, at Pang Kwai Wiang Nong Lom, which has 3 buffalo camps in total, namely Pang Kwai Ban Ton Yang, Pang Kwai Pa Sak Luang, and Pang Kwai Ban Huai Nam Rak or Pang Kwai Wiang Nong Lom, it was found that buffalo have been dying for almost 3 months, since last September. They have foaming at the mouth, refusing to eat grass and food, causing the buffalo to fall ill and die. Mr. Sai Fon Chummongkol, president of the Wiang Nong Lom buffalo herders group, said that the buffaloes started to show symptoms since the first flood. Then, the flood came again for a total of 3 rounds. The symptoms seen were that the buffaloes had stiff necks and rotten mouths and feet. He went to inform the provincial livestock office, which assigned the district livestock office to take care of the animals, but they did not take any action to fix it. As a result, 3-4 buffaloes died every day, until the pen was empty. At present, 245 buffaloes have died. The chairman of the buffalo herders group said that he wanted to ask for help from the government even though the livestock department said that it was not caused by an epidemic. However, he believed that there were many causes, starting from the dredging of Wiang Nong Lom, which caused the loss of animal grazing areas, insufficient food, and flooding. It would be impossible for the villagers to find straw for the buffalo to eat. The daily expenses are thousands of baht. In the past, the government has evaded providing assistance. Even when complaining to the province, they still did not take action. There was no assistance because they claimed that it was not caused by an animal epidemic. The more Wiang Nong Lom is dredged, the more the area that used to be a pasture is lost. From the 4-5 thousand animals raised in Wiang Nong Lom, now there are less than a thousand left. Ms. Suwicha Panchan, a veterinarian specializing in the Animal Health Development Group of the Chiang Rai Provincial Livestock Office, revealed the cause of death of the buffaloes in the three buffalo camps. The examination results found that the buffaloes had severe anemia and liver failure, and had parasites in their stomachs. It is assumed that since the buffalo camps experienced drought and flooding, the buffaloes did not have enough food, which affected their growth and caused them to be malnourished and weak. In the rainy season, there were many insects, which caused parasites in their blood. However, the main cause is likely due to lack of food. As for the solution, we will find coordinators in each camp to come and receive training on raising buffaloes, animal feed and animal health care, set up an annual health checkup program, a vaccination program, a parasite control program, and recommend that the camp quarantine animals with diseases.