Awareness Campaign to Improve the Welfare of Bullocks in India’s Sugarcane Industry
In Anakapalle, India, the Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA), supported by Animal Aid Abroad, is working to improve the welfare of bullocks in the sugarcane industry. Through medical camps, vaccination drives, rescues, and owner education, they are transforming the lives of animals who are often neglected or abandoned.
Medical and Awareness Camps in Rural Villages
Between April and June, VSPCA conducted mobile medical and welfare awareness camps across six villages in Anakapalle. These camps focused on sugarcane fields, jaggery production units, and farming communities where bullocks are heavily used for agricultural work and transport.
Veterinary teams provided health examinations, wound treatment, hoof care, deworming, parasite control, and vaccinations. A total of 98 working bulls were vaccinated against foot‑and‑mouth disease, reducing the risk of outbreaks. Farmers were educated on humane handling, proper nutrition, rest periods, and the importance of timely veterinary care.
Supporting Nutrition During the Off‑Season
As jaggery production slows during the off‑season, many bulls are left without adequate nutrition. To address this, VSPCA distributed nutritious feed packets to owners, ensuring animals remained healthy until work resumed. This initiative helped prevent malnutrition and supported the wellbeing of working bulls during a vulnerable period.
Emergency Rescues of Abandoned and Injured Animals
Several rescues highlighted the urgent need for intervention:
An abandoned buffalo was found dehydrated and unable to stand. With careful handling, he was transported to the shelter, treated, and is now recovering.
A young bull with a severe horn injury was rescued, treated, and given lifelong care at the shelter due to his inability to return to heavy labour.
A cow suffering from foot‑and‑mouth disease was quarantined and treated intensively to prevent further spread.
Five malnourished bulls were rescued from Amberupuram village, receiving deworming, nutritional support, and long‑term rehabilitation at the shelter.
These rescues demonstrate the reality faced by working animals and the importance of providing them with safe environments when they can no longer work.
Building a Future of Compassion
VSPCA plans to expand awareness campaigns to additional villages and collaborate with the animal husbandry department of Andhra Pradesh to prevent the sale of old bulls in live markets. Their goal is to rescue and provide lifelong shelter for animals who would otherwise face neglect or exploitation.
With the support of Animal Aid Abroad, VSPCA continues to deliver veterinary care, education, and rescue operations that improve the welfare of working animals in India’s sugarcane industry.
Your Role in This Work
Every vaccination, rescue, and act of compassion is made possible by your support. It is through your generosity that AAA can sustain these partnerships, ensuring that bullocks, cows, and other working animals receive the care, dignity, and protection they deserve.