Tanzania police burnt to death 6,400 one-day-old chicks from Kenya, on
suspicion they could spread bird flu. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN | NATION MEDIA
GROUP
Veterinarians in Tanzania have condemned the country's s
decision to burn to death 6,400 chicks which had been imported from
Kenya illegally.
The chicks worth Tsh12.5 million
(about $5,570) were impounded on Monday at the northern Namanga border
post before being set alight on Tuesday.
Tanzania
Animal Welfare Society executive director Dr Thomas Kahema said there
were other alternatives to curb outbreak of bird flu.
He said the 2008 law on animal welfare guarantees the protection of the chicks and that it was cruel to burn them.
Further
Dr Kahema said the authorities could have been sent the newly-hatched
birds back to Kenya since they had not verified that the chicks had been
infected.
"The decision distorts the country's image as one that does not respect animal rights," he said.
Other Tanzanian animal rights enthusiasts also expressed their discontent with the burning of the chicks saying it was cruel.
The
government veterinary official for the Northern Zone, Mr Obedi
Nyasebwa, had said Tuesday that the aim was to curb the outbreak of bird
flu.
Further, he said the government had banned the importation of chicks in 2007.
Arusha-based businesswoman Mary Matia who had imported the birds was taken into police custody.
Tanzania
Revenue Authority assistant manager at the Namanga border Mr Edwin
Iwato said the owner of the vehicle that carried the chicks would also
be fined.
Senior veterinarian Medard Tarimo said complaints about chick smuggling had been rife.
“They
are mostly smuggled at night, endangering the health of Tanzanians
since we know avian influenza has broken out in neighbouring Uganda.”
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