Water buffaloes succumbing to flooding in Phatthalung
The mortality rate for water buffaloes in Phatthalung, one of the Southern provinces hit by recent heavy floods, has spiked due to the lack of feed and being immersed in water for too long, prompting farmers to call on authorities to provide new habitat for their animals.
Somchoke Kongme, a 56yearold villager in Phatthalung’s Khuan Khanun district, said 20 of his 60 buffaloes had already died after the area was hit by flooding last Tuesday.
He said he could sell the body of dead buffalo for only Bt3,000, far less than the normal Bt20,000 to Bt30,000 price. He added that he believed the animals died because their enclosure was inundated and the buffaloes were unable to eat grass under the water.
Villagers have asked authorities to create a raised dirt mount as a temporary habitat for their animals.
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