In a shocking incident highlighting the menace of plastic pollution, veterinary doctors at a government-run hospital in Odisha’s Ganjam district removed around 40 kg of plastic materials from the stomach of a stray cow.
According to a reports, the three-hour-long surgery was conducted on Monday under the supervision of Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Anjan Kumar Das.
Surgery to Save the Cow
The five-year-old cow had been suffering for several days, with symptoms including difficulty in passing stool and urine and frequent kicking of its belly in pain.
Veterinarian Satya Narayan Kar, who led the surgical team, said,
“Stray cows, which feed on leftovers discarded in plastic bags, often end up consuming plastic materials. This leads to blockage of the intestines, which can be fatal if untreated.”
The cow had been shifted from Hilpatna area to the hospital in an animal ambulance after its condition did not improve with on-the-spot treatment for two days.
Plastic Pollution Crisis in Silk City
Environmental activist Sudhir Rout said the incident underlines the continued use of polythene in Berhampur (popularly known as Silk City), despite a ban on its use, manufacture, and transport.
He urged the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) to strictly enforce rules against plastic usage to prevent similar incidents.
Not the First Case
In 2023, veterinary surgeons from the same hospital had surgically removed 30 kg of plastic waste from another stray cow’s stomach. Experts warn that such cases are becoming alarmingly common in urban areas due to rampant littering and poor waste management.
