Animals are dying en masse in North Korea as record-breaking heat continues to bake the Korean Peninsula. Emergency measures in some parts of the country haven’t been enough to prevent the damage.
A source in North Pyongan province told Daily NK recently that heat-related deaths are being reported by both large farms and small-scale farmers.
One farm in Tasa village, Yomju county, has lost more than half of its 30 pigs to the extreme heat.
“As this sweltering heat drags on, many pigs are dying at farms, and entire flocks of chickens are being wiped out. Ducks have been spared the worst since they stay close to water,” the source said.
The cramped sheds where livestock are kept have poor ventilation and no climate control, leaving the animals completely exposed to the heat.
Alarmed by the mass deaths, some farms have asked local power authorities to give them priority for electricity. Farmers have also started hanging ice packs inside livestock sheds and regularly spraying animals with water.
“Farmers have to save their remaining livestock if they want to rebuild their stock. Everyone is doing everything they can to keep their animals alive,” the source said.
Essentially, farmers are fighting desperately to save their surviving animals from the deadly heat.
Small farmers fare slightly better
Even families raising just a few chickens or pigs at home have lost many animals to the heat.
But since backyard animals are usually free-range, they can find shade or water for relief. Small-scale farmers have therefore suffered less damage than large farms.
“As animals keep dying in this endless heat, pig sheds are being cooled by electric fans that people can’t afford to use for themselves. People are fighting desperately to save the livestock that represents their entire wealth,” the source said.
The source added that during this heat wave, some North Koreans are sadly saying that “humans have become the servants, and pigs and chickens the masters.”
