SHILLONG: Even as cattle smuggling seizures along Meghalaya’s international border continue to decline, a severe infrastructure gap has sparked an ongoing animal welfare crisis in the state.
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai disclosed that a coordinated effort involving the Border Security Force (BSF), local police, and the state Veterinary Department has resulted in a consistent decrease in the number of cattle intercepted during smuggling attempts.
However, this operational success has exposed a glaring shortfall: Meghalaya still lacks official, state-run animal shelters for seized livestock.
At present, the responsibility for caring for intercepted cattle rests entirely with independent local societies. Minister Shullai explained that while the BSF is effective in intercepting smuggling attempts, it lacks the facilities and resources necessary for the ongoing care, daily feeding, and essential medical checks of the animals. As a result, local district border magistrates and the veterinary department routinely hand over seized cattle to private societies to ensure their welfare.
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Shullai stressed that this stopgap solution underscores an urgent need for the establishment of official animal shelters in every district of Meghalaya.
The consequences of inadequate state facilities are dire, reflected in alarmingly high mortality rates among seized livestock. The Minister confirmed that frequent and significant cattle deaths have been reported, as the veterinary department and border authorities are simply unequipped to meet the animals’ daily needs. In some cases, BSF personnel have been compelled to forage in nearby jungles to obtain grass for feeding the cattle.
Shullai reiterated that until proper state-run infrastructure is put in place, the ongoing collaborations with private societies remain absolutely essential for providing seized animals with adequate food and medical care.
(4FrontMedia news)
