Plastic Removal: 50 Kg Taken Out from Cow’s Stomach in Visakhapatnam

In a distressing case from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, a veterinary team led by Dr. P. Anil Kumar performed a critical surgery to remove more than 50 kilograms of plastic debris from the stomach of a six-year-old dairy cow. The animal was admitted to the government veterinary hospital in Anandapuram mandal after suffering from appetite loss and difficulty resting.

During the examination, the veterinarians found the cow’s abdomen unusually firm, resembling the hardness of a “cement sack,” indicating a severe internal blockage caused by plastic waste. The surgical procedure, which lasted around five hours, successfully extracted a large quantity of plastic items such as polythene bags and tangled threads.

Currently, the cow is stable and is expected to make a full recovery within five days. This incident highlights the grave impact of plastic pollution on animal health and serves as a wake-up call for the community. The veterinary team is advocating for the reduction of plastic usage and encourages the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives like cloth or jute bags to safeguard animals and the environment.