cattle menace in Triplicane, Mylapore and ... UK too........

At Thiruvallikkeni it is a common scene – cattle freely roaming in the narrow streets – cows being more aggressive – while buffaloes are docile. As they roam freely, residents find it difficult ….roads are nasty, animals many a times threaten the old people….there are cases of cattle causing grievous injuries to walkers, cyclists and two wheeler riders…  their formidable presence is feared -  the mortal fear imposed by the animal chasing people carrying bags checking on green leafs, vegetables and other eatables.  Perhaps Triplicane is not alone …..

A recent  TOI report mentions ‘Cows, dogs taking over Chepauk MRTS station’ – this is a station situate closer to famous Chepauk stadium and benefits Govt employees of Ezhilagam and Madras University.  The news items says -  Women employees deployed to scrub the floor and remove garbage from Chepauk MRTS railway station are seen patrolling the station armed with sticks these days. It is not just washing floors or picking up discarded plastic but also chasing away stray cows and dogs that stroll inside the station complex. Public want the Railways to do something to keep stray dogs and cows the station.  There are four women employed on contract basis at the station to clean the complex. The cleaning women complain that walking around with a bucket and removing cow dung at regular intervals have become part of their daily routine.

Miles away in UK – the cows were handled very differently – we may feel it too inhumane though ! …….. the report appearing in Daily Mail of 12^th Oct 14 state that Police snipers shot dead two cows which had escaped from a nature reserve after going on a five-hour rampage. A helicopter and armed police were deployed to mobilise the cattle, which had escaped from Marston Marsh in Norwich, Norfolk, before running amok  and two of the animals were shot in the 'interests of public safety' while  a third managed to escape.

Officers from Norfolk Police were forced to close roads around the city, including the busy A140 Ipswich Road, in a bid to air their search - causing traffic chaos. Search attempts were hampered by a severe lightning storm but after five-hours the third cow, which police described as 'very angry', was found dead in nearby woodland just after midnight.

The cattle are believed to have escaped while being loaded onto a lorry by their owner.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

13^th Oct 2014.