Animal Rescue: Indonesia Ravaged by Another Earthquake

Just as IFAW's ER team was planning to demobilize from Indonesia following their work with local organization CARE after the recent devastating floods in Jakarta, a powerful earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter scale struck western Indonesia, killing more than 70 people and injuring hundreds more as buildings collapsed.

It is feared that the death toll could rise sharply. Estimates are that tens of thousands of people are likely to be affected. Thousands fled their homes near the epicentre of the quake on Sumatra island, approximately 900km from Jakarta.

Power lines and communication to the affected region have been cut and Indonesian television showed widespread damage to buildings, including a hospital that had to be evacuated. Troops have been deployed to help survivors and hunt for victims while emergency medical supplies are being dispatched to the region.

Government officials have conducted a preliminary assessment of animal care needs and have requested the resources of CARE and IFAW.

Dr. Mona, a vet who works closely with CARE, and a fourth year vet student will join the IFAW ER team of Dick Green and Jennifer Miller who leave Jakarta on 8 March to travel to the affected region. They will be met on arrival and taken immediately to the Solok area which experienced the greatest damage. The area is home to a large number of cattle and dogs and preliminary information suggests that they were significantly impacted by the quake.

The IFAW ER team will conduct an assessment and establish how best to assist CARE and the local populations in caring for affected animals.