Massive Horse Deaths in Kazakhstan as Authorities Remain Unresponsive
A virus rampant among horses in certain zones of Kazakhstan poses a potential threat to a burgeoning meat source, prompting bafflement among health officials as they grapple with no clear solutions.
The disturbing news of equine fatalities surfaced on Instagram via the account Patriot of Karaganda, reporting sick horses in parts of Karaganda region's Bukharzhyrau region, suffering from a distressing condition characterized by lesions that start on the legs and spread throughout the body.
graphic social media clips captured two ailing horses within a stable, with one demonstrating severely bleeding legs on the brink of death.
Farmers in the hamlet of Tortkol speculate the cause to be lymphangitis-an inflammation of the lymph vessels attributed to pathogenic microorganisms, often streptococci or staphylococci. They cite instances of this infection detected in the nearby village of Umutker since the previous year, sharing grazing pastures with the afflicted animals.
Local state veterinarians, however, have refuted lymphangitis as a definitive cause. This has sparked speculation among farmers about authorities' intentional avoidance of confirming the lymphangitis diagnosis to dodge financial obligations for livestock losses. Farmers claim owners of deceased horses with confirmed lymphangitis in an adjoining village have already received monetary compensation.
Veterinary officials urge caution against hasty conclusions. One official, as reported by Patriot of Karaganda, stated: "So what if the livestock from Tortkol graze alongside those from Umutker? This isn't sufficient grounds for a uniform diagnosis."
This regional predicament unfolds amidst a broader positive trend - an increasing preference for horse meat in Kazakhstan.
Data released by analytics company Energyprom unveils a 11% decrease in horse mortality rates last year, concurrent with a 5% swell in the horse population to approximately 4 million. The southern Turkestan region hosts the most extensive population, accounting for about one-tenth of the total.
The growing demand for horse meat is further evidenced by a 7% increase in horse slaughterings in 2023 compared to the previous year. Consumption of horse meat during the final quarter of 2023 also experienced a substantial spike from the same period the preceding year, reflecting the longstanding Kazakh customs of sogym, where horses are butchered before the storage of their meat for winter.
In other animal news, Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Yerlan Nysanbayev announced a temporary halt in the culling of saiga antelopes on February 12. The ban, effective from February 10, was allegedly implemented following consultations with regional and international experts.
Previously, in September, the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry had approved the management of the saiga population's growth through a netting and shooting campaign.
Nysanbaev suggested that saiga hunting might restart later this year, given predictions of a 40% increase in their population to about 2.5 million heads.
"The western Kazakh pasture land does not have the capacity to support such numbers," Nysanbaev stated.
The social media posts about the sick horses in Bukharzhyrau region of Karaganda raise concerns about potential medical-conditions affecting the horses and the overall health-and-wellness of the equine population. The debate surrounding the cause of this distressing health issue, either lymphangitis or another unknown factor, highlights the need for a swift response from medical-experts and veterinary officials to ensure the health of the horses and the stability of the horse meat industry. Moreover, the data released by Energyprom on horse mortality rates and population growth indicate a growing interest in horse meat, particularly in the southern Turkestan region, emphasizing the significance of maintaining the health of these animals for both health-and-wellness reasons and the economy.
