Villagers baffled after 11 dead cows dumped in Kuala Nerus

Residents at a village in Kuala Nerus are baffled by the recent discovery of 11 dead cows dumped in an abandoned clearing nearby. 

Wan Zaidi Wan Jaafar, a resident of Kampung Sungai Lekar, said they found the carcasses which had begun to decay while heading to Sungai Lekar some 5m away last Saturday evening. 

"The carcasses may have been dumped on Saturday as some villagers saw two lorries entering the junction to this area. 

"According to them, the two lorries were seen loaded with dead cattle," he said today when met at the area about 15m off Jalan Kota Bharu-Kuala Terengganu, where the bodies of the cows remained. 

Wan Zaidi said the stench was unbearable, adding that the road was the main route for commuters.

"Although the dumping is far from the settlement area, it is along a daily route for residents going to the river and to plantations. So we worry about the unbearable stench of the carcasses and whether it will pollute the river," he said.

Meanwhile, Terengganu state veterinary services department director Anun Man, when contacted, said they had not received any reports on the matter. 

However, he said the department would go immediately to the location to obtain samples to identify the cause of death of the cattle and carry out disposal work and further investigation.

"We have no inkling why the cows were dumped there. It is possible the animals were smuggled from afar and transported in a closed truck over a long journey which could have caused the cows to suffocate.

"If they died due to an outbreak such as foot and mouth disease and so on, the cattle owners can be prosecuted under Section 31 of the Animals Act 1953 for failing to report their livestock disease to the veterinary department," he said.

He said action could also be taken under Section 34 of the Animals Act 1953 for disposing of diseased livestock without the permission of the veterinary authorities.

The department will also investigate if there are elements of animal cruelty involved under Section 29 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015.