PINAR DEL RIO, May 14 (Víctor Rolando Arroyo, UPECI) – Residents here are showing growing concern over the depredations of a herd of water buffalo imported by the government from Southeast Asia to supplement the island's cattle herd.
Residents of the township of El Sitio say more than 12 persons have been gored by the animals. "People here are concerned for the safety of hundreds of students in "schools in the countryside" Nos. 7, 8, and 15. Those students routinely work in the fields around here," said
Ibrahim Ovalles, a local farmer.
The water buffaloes also direct their aggressive behaviour toward native cattle, say residents. "A considerable number of head have been killed by the buffaloes or have fled in fear of them to the grassy plains to the South," said Pavel Valdés Cabrera.
They also destroy planted fields, said Valdés. "No matter what kind of crop it is, they trample it underfoot."
Another aspect of the problem that irks the locals is that the animals belong to the
government farms and the administrators don't respond to their complaints. They say when one their animals trample government crops, the story is different. "In those cases, officials generally confiscate the animal or fine its owner," complained one resident of El Sitio who did not
want to give his name.
Versión original en español
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