Horses That Survived A Flood Give Birth: The Miracle Of Life
Today we introduce you to the wonderful story of the horses that survived the floods of Wellingborough (England) which they gave birth: a true miracle of life.
In the town of Wellingborough, in the county of Northamptonshire (England), severe flooding occurs after periods of rain. For this reason, the city council, through the Environment Agency, offers citizens all the information necessary to prevent them. The same thing did not happen with the horses that survived the latest floods.
Today, floods are becoming more frequent, dangerous and unpredictable. Some of the beings that are most affected by these disasters are the animals that live on farms. Often the farmer does not have the resources to save them and they end up drowning. Fortunately, not everyone goes to this end.
Climate change and floods
Climate change, a consequence of the rapid warming of the planet, means that the air carries much more moisture. This results in heavy torrential rains that usually occur in late winter and spring. However, summer thunderstorms are becoming more and more frequent.
The floods that originate from rivers, as occurred in Wellingborough, are caused by their overflow. These waterways usually have flood zones, but the surrounding vegetation prevents the overflow from worsening.
However, the rivers that flow through human settlements are devoid of this vegetation and when they overflow there is nothing to stop them.
In the case of the Wellingborough floods, it was the River Nene that overflowed and wiped out everything it encountered. In addition to possible human and material losses, a flood can pose many other threats.
In fact, the water of a flood can be contaminated with human and animal fecal matter, it can contain dangerous bacteria and harmful chemicals. So coming into contact with this type of water can be really dangerous, not only for people, but also for animals, as in the case of horses that have been rescued.
The horses that survived the Wellingborough flood
In early 2020, several animal protection organizations warned of the presence of dozens of abandoned horses in the Wellingborough pastures.
These animals have suffered the consequences of great storms such as storms Ciara and Dennis, which flooded the fields without leaving food or shelter available for the animals.
It was not clear (and still isn’t) who owned both the land and the horses. This is why Conservative MP Pete Bone asked the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to investigate the condition of the horses.
Veterinary inspectors who examined the animals and their environment determined that they still had enough dry land and hay to feed on. Meanwhile, several horses have been found dead or had to be euthanized.
The actions of the City Council did not seem to please the citizens, who carried out mobilizations together with animal protection associations such as World Horse Welfare and Blue Cross .
Happy ending for the surviving horses
After several months of protests to save animals, many signatures and many more campaigns, the abandoned horses of Wellingborough were rescued. However, a difficult path awaits them now.
According to the different associations that have welcomed the equines, many of them appear not to have been with a human for years. This makes animal rehabilitation extremely difficult.
To the surprise of the rescuers, many mares began giving birth to their foals shortly after they were rescued. This was very strange, given the state of malnutrition of the animals.
Gradually, the animals recovered and began to fully enjoy their new life. Many have already found a family that will take care of them as they deserve.
How did the pregnant mares survive?
The gestation of horses lasts about 11 months, in some cases it can last up to a year. This shows us that many of the horses rescued from the floods had been abandoned to their fate for at least 12 months in unfavorable conditions.
In addition, the quantity and type of food in mares varies greatly during pregnancy. The diet of pregnant mares must include food supplements or be very varied.
On the other hand, these animals did not have the opportunity to graze beyond the limits of their enclosure. These facts show the robustness and strength of these animals.
Unfortunately, despite being partakers of this miracle of life, the people who rescued the abandoned horses point out that the legislation that must protect the animals is disastrous. Once again it is observed that a part of the human population abuses and abandons animals.
