Problem Statement
Animal disposal by burying is a common practice. Many methods are available for disposing dead animals. Disposing of dead animals has sometimes posed some dangers especially when the animals are disposed in areas which are not proper appropriate. The issue becomes more serious when there is a mass burial of animals.
Burying of animals in regions which are not appropriate poses the risk of contamination if both water and soil. At times when animals are improperly buried, reburial can be an option but it is worth noting that reburying equally raises the chances of soil and water contamination. This paper seeks to examine the effect of animal reburial on the soil structure and water. The paper also proposes a way forward.
Background
Large scale keeping of livestock often poses a challenge when the livestock gets inflicted with diseases. It is a common practice to cull and bury animals which to contain the spreading of diseases such as anthrax, food and mouth, swine flu, bird flu among others. Upon the occurrence of epidemic the burying processes have been known to be carried out very first and many at times in a very haphazard manner. Few governments have put strict laws in place which govern the mass burial of animals.
Tae Jong reported of incidences where animals are buried quickly without much consideration to the burial sites. Burying of animals especially in mass numbers in sites which are not appropriate poses many risks. Decomposing carcases are likely to contaminate underground water reservoirs which in turn will find its way to human and animal consumption. Improper burying which will lead to water contamination will likely lead to a catastrophic effect as this will likely contaminate water sources.
Contaminated water sources will likely be the easiest way to kill most of the wildlife stock. The fact that contamination may not be detected immediately implies that putting the situation under control may be hard. According to Tae-jong there are possibilities of animals being exhumed and reburied in regions which are appropriate to avoid contamination water sources (Tae-jong 1).
Carcases buried on hilly slopes and regions which do not have stable soil structure increase the possibilities of contaminations. Areas which are frequently prone to flooding are likely to increase the chances of contamination. Carcases buried in such areas should be reburied in appropriate areas elsewhere. It is however worth noting that such an exercise is prone to increase the chances of soil and water pollution.
Taking into consideration that the carcases would have decomposed then a lot of care has to be taken when carrying out the whole exercise. The fact that the regions which have to undergo exhuming are already unstable the chances of contaminating water are quite high. Digging up areas which areas which have shallow water tables is risky as this may enhance a fast leaching of the decomposing carcases (Livestock Mortality 1; Texas Board 1).
Recommendation
Personal I will recommend that before a burial exercise is carried out a thorough evaluation ought to be carried out to determine how best the dig up the carcase and avoid any pollution. There should be attempts to divert rivers channels flowing near such sites to flow away. In regions such on the mountain sides reburial should take place but the exercise should be accompanied with a lot of care to minimise the pollution to the soil as well as water (Agriculture and Consumer Protection 1; Disposing animal carcasses 1).
Works Cited
Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Animal health and the community. FAO Corporate Document Repository. Web.
Disposing animal carcasses. Disposing of Animal Carcasses. Northern Ireland Environmental Agency, 2011. Web.
Livestock Mortality. Livestock Mortality Burial Techniques. Agriculture and Rural Development, 2011. Web.
Tae-jong, Kim. “Hasty, shoddy burial of animals expected to contaminate soil, water.” The Korea Times, 2011. Web.
Texas Board. Catastrophic Animal Mortality Management (Burial Method). Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, 2002. Web.