Death by garbage: Picnic litter is killing Soran livestock

SORAN, Kurdistan Region — Garbage left behind by picnickers is being eaten by livestock and killing the animals.

“Our livestock is all dead. Our goats die when they eat plastic bags,” said shepherd Wasman Asaad, who keeps animals in the Soran area and has lost at least three goats this year. Plastic bags and garbage were found in the dead goats’ stomachs. 

The Kurdistan Region has beautiful countryside with mountains and fresh streams that attract holidaymakers and day trippers keen to enjoy the fresh air, but they too often leave their trash behind. Roadsides, rivers, and fields are frequently strewn with garbage.

“The picnickers should come here to enjoy themselves, not to harm me,” said Asaad.

In the nearby Soran slaughterhouse, butchers find all kinds of indigestible items in the stomachs of animals. “When we open any cow’s stomach, it’s full of nylon, rope, and bags,” said Riyadh Mamand.

It’s not just plastic that is the problem, according to veterinarian Saidawan Omar. Some animals also eat bits of metal like screws or nails that cut up their internal organs.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) staged a ‘Keep Kurdistan Clean’ campaign in 2019 and environmentalists frequently organize events to collect garbage, but the problem persists every year, especially around the Newroz holiday when thousands of families go out for picnics. 

 

Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed