Dead cows have been washed up on two beaches off the island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea, western Greece. The animals may have been thrown – alive or dead – from a vessel.
The first dead cow landed on the beach of Pefkoulia yesterday, Thursday, and the second one on Ai Yiannis beach, today, Friday.
Authorities have been alerted and they estimate that more cows will be washed out on the island’s beaches.
According to ilefkada.gr, the animal washed out on Thursday was decomposing with a rope tied to its leg which ended up in a heavy object indicating that it has been thrown into the sea from a boat.
In addition, the local media expresses the assessment that a boat has emptied the dead animals and that others may be found.
Coast Guard, Fire Brigade, a cleaning crew from the municipality and officials from the regional veterinary service have rushed to the beaches to collect the cadavers.
PS I hope authorities will perform autopsies at least to find out whether the cows were alive or dead on the ship and whether they have died of some – dangerous ? – infection.
Either or, authorities have also to identify and locate the boat and the flock owner.
After the recent sheep and goat pest across the country and the dead fish disaster in Volos all we now need are dead cows in our seas….
if i remember correctly, last year or 2 years ago, a lot of cows were found dead on the shores. but do we know if they drowned, or if they had died before, and had been thrown into the sea like rubbish?
It’s my understanding that it’s a common practice to throw off boats and drown diseased animals in the meat importation business. It wouldn’t make sense to drown healthy livestock which can bring a profit.
Still, it’s a bit disturbing to have them washing up on the beach!
the very fact of getting rid of sick animals by drowning them is a bit disturbing, isn’t it?