How much livestock was lost in the tsunami disaster ?
There is still little information concerning the impact of the tsunami on domestic farm animals. However, from experience elsewhere, there is likely to have been considerable destruction of buildings that housed animals – all animals or birds that were housed, tethered or caged in the affected areas will have been lost. The main casualties were poultry, pigs, goats, sheep and to a lesser extent cattle and buffalos. Initial reports indicate that farm animals have not suffered to the extent that might have been originally expected. The situation in Northern Sumatra however remains a major concern and reports are coming out indicating that over 20,000 cattle/buffalos, 20,000 small ruminants and nearly 2.5 million poultry were lost.
