Bull saved as 69-kg plastic removed from its stomach

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 20

About 69-kg plastic and other waste, the largest quantity found in any animal in the state, has been removed from the stomach of a stray bull.

Activist Ravi Dubey said the bovine rumenotomy surgery was performed by veterinarians associated with the local chapter of People for Animals (PFA) to save the bull’s life. Besides plastic waste, other items recovered include iron nails, keys, coins, blade, screws and stones.

The bull, aged around 10, was found lying by the road near Patel Chowk on March 5 and moved to the cow shelter run by the PFA here. It was found that it had been vomiting regularly after every feed, following which vets suspected internal congestion. The animal’s limbs were also swollen, said Dubey. “After confirming waste inside the bull’s stomach, a rumenotomy was performed,” he said. The cattle-specific procedure is a routine one and used for both treatment and diagnosis.

While this is the first rumenotomy of the year, it is claimed two to three such surgeries have been performed each year over the years, which points out that stray cattle were easy victims of plastic pollution

This case also exposes the civic authorities’ tall claims of to restricting plastic use and its proper disposal, said social activist Satinder Duggal. “Though a drive against the use of polythene carrybags has been in force, strict implementation and proper awareness are lacking on ground,” Duggal said.