Police and animal welfare activists rescued 25 cattle from a truck near Maraimalai Nagar after finding the animals allegedly packed tightly without adequate food, drinking water or ventilation, according to a report by the Times of India. The cattle were being transported to Kerala for slaughter, and the drivers did not have a fit-to-transfer certificate from the Animal Husbandry Department.
The rescue followed a complaint from animal welfare activist Sai Vignesh, who spotted the truck parked near Maraimalai Nagar on Saturday evening. He told the Times of India that cow dung and urine were leaking from the vehicle and that the animals appeared cramped and were struggling to breathe.
Vignesh said the truck had no provision for food or drinking water and lacked adequate ventilation. He filed a complaint with the police, who subsequently conducted a raid on the vehicle.
A senior police officer confirmed that the drivers had admitted the cattle were being transported for slaughter. The officer said the animals were moved to a government-run goshala for immediate care after the intervention.
The police are awaiting a veterinarian’s certificate before deciding on further action against the driver and the employer. The veterinary examination is expected to assess the condition of the animals, including any wounds and their age, according to the officer quoted in the report.
The absence of a fit-to-transfer certificate was identified by police as a key issue in the case. Such certification is issued by the Animal Husbandry Department and is required for the transport of the cattle, according to the police account.
The incident places attention on the enforcement chain involved in inter-state animal transport: vehicle checks, transport documentation, veterinary certification and the responsibility of police and animal husbandry officials when violations are reported. In this case, the truck was intercepted after a citizen complaint rather than through a routine inspection described in the report.
The immediate care of the cattle has been transferred to the government shelter while the veterinary assessment is pending. The police said the certificate would be required before further action is taken against the driver and the employer.
