Roadside carcasses pose environmental danger
Roadside carcasses pose environmental danger
April 9, 2016 | 12:13 AM
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April 9, 2016 | 12:13 AM
Last Updated: April 9, 2016 | 12:13 AM
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Saudi Gazette report
Users of highways have complained about the large number of carcasses left or dumped on roadsides in the Kingdom.
The bodies of such animals are usually thrown near highways by their owners in complete disregard to the serious environmental impacts they can have, Al-Riyadh daily reported.
Moreover, Islam urges adherents to remove harm from the road. It is an irresponsible act to leave carcasses near highways and telecommunication and electricity towers.
The act itself gives the Kingdom a negative image, as the dead animals are seen frequently in areas near highways that link the country with neighboring countries.
Due to the smell associated with the carcasses, they attract stray dogs and black kites.
There have been many reports of accidents due to dogs and kites that take drivers by surprise, making them swerve off the road.
A number of cattle owners told Al-Riyadh daily that some owners dump carcasses at the nearest public place because the animal had contracted a virus.
They said that if a carcass is not removed from the rest of the herd quickly, other cattle can contract the disease.
The director of Al-Asiah Governorate Municipal Office, Abdulaziz Al-Habdan, criticized the act and described it as uncivilized and savage.
“We have provided 17 large containers for carcasses all over the governorate. Apparently, some cattle owners prefer to take the short cut and dump the dead animals on the road. It is an irresponsible act. We have a toll-free number for reporting carcasses. We send a team who knows how to get rid of the carcass safely, before any negative effects happen to the environment,” Al-Habdan said.
He also blamed expatriate shepherds for such action and said they were involved in dumping carcasses.
A government official, Ali Al-Zaid, called upon authorities to slap violators with heavy fines as it was the only way to curb and end this practice.
“Dumping carcasses can cause spread of commons diseases contracted by humans and animals,” he said, calling upon the media and imams of mosques to educate the people, especially cattle owners, about the consequences of the act.
The director of the Ministry of Agriculture branch in the governorate, Rakan Al-Harbi, said carcasses dumped in public areas bring about catastrophic environmental results if left on the road for a long time.
He called upon municipality offices to provide more carcass burial facilities in the governorate to ensure proper disposal of the dead animals.
“If an animal carcass is left for a long time on the road, it will decompose and some of the decomposed part might end up in wells or other places because of floods,” he said.
Carcasses can be buried properly or burned, and he called on all owners of cattle and their shepherds to be educated on safe ways to get rid of an animal carcass and the importance of reporting carcasses to specialized teams.
The act itself gives the Kingdom a negative image, as the dead animals are seen frequently in areas near highways that link the country with neighboring countries.
Due to the smell associated with the carcasses, they attract stray dogs and black kites.
There have been many reports of accidents due to dogs and kites that take drivers by surprise, making them swerve off the road.
A number of cattle owners told Al-Riyadh daily that some owners dump carcasses at the nearest public place because the animal had contracted a virus.
They said that if a carcass is not removed from the rest of the herd quickly, other cattle can contract the disease.
The director of Al-Asiah Governorate Municipal Office, Abdulaziz Al-Habdan, criticized the act and described it as uncivilized and savage.
“We have provided 17 large containers for carcasses all over the governorate. Apparently, some cattle owners prefer to take the short cut and dump the dead animals on the road. It is an irresponsible act. We have a toll-free number for reporting carcasses. We send a team who knows how to get rid of the carcass safely, before any negative effects happen to the environment,” Al-Habdan said.
He also blamed expatriate shepherds for such action and said they were involved in dumping carcasses.
A government official, Ali Al-Zaid, called upon authorities to slap violators with heavy fines as it was the only way to curb and end this practice.
“Dumping carcasses can cause spread of commons diseases contracted by humans and animals,” he said, calling upon the media and imams of mosques to educate the people, especially cattle owners, about the consequences of the act.
The director of the Ministry of Agriculture branch in the governorate, Rakan Al-Harbi, said carcasses dumped in public areas bring about catastrophic environmental results if left on the road for a long time.
He called upon municipality offices to provide more carcass burial facilities in the governorate to ensure proper disposal of the dead animals.
“If an animal carcass is left for a long time on the road, it will decompose and some of the decomposed part might end up in wells or other places because of floods,” he said.
Carcasses can be buried properly or burned, and he called on all owners of cattle and their shepherds to be educated on safe ways to get rid of an animal carcass and the importance of reporting carcasses to specialized teams.
