A team from the World Society for the Protection of Animals is on the slopes of Mount Sinabung in Northern Sumatra attending to hundreds of animals in the ash-covered wasteland surrounding the volcano which recently came back to life after 400 years of inactivity.

Approachding a cow in the danger zone around Mt. Sinabung.

The team is focusing its efforts on the most affected areas within a 7 kilometer radius of the volcano, helping evacuate hundreds of animals to safety. Local food sources are coated with volcanic ash and unfit for animals to eat so WSPA has provided them with emergency feed for up to 8 weeks.

Walking a cow to safety after evacuation from the 7 kilometer danger zone.

A few months ago WSPA Disaster Relief Teams provided veterinary care, food and shelter for livestock and pets in the Philippines in some of the areas hit hardest by Typhoon Haiyan.

WSPA’s Dr. Nartisorn Pholperm treats a cow in Northern Cebu Island.

With the help of 23 local volunteer vets, the WSPA team assessed over 13,000 animals and treated over 2000! Diarrhea and tick infestations were the most common conditions. Diarrhea which is usually caused by intestinal parasites can lead to malnutrition, and ticks can transmit deadly diseases. Both can prove fatal if left untreated. Thousands of animals were also vaccinated against a disease called hemorrhagic septicemia.

A volunteer vet with WSPA’s response team treats one of the Narucay family’s five cows.

Prospera Bernal brought her 15-year-old buffalo for treatment. He was injured during the typhoon and had a gash on his back that had not healed and become infected. Although the injury would not normally be serious, the stress of the typhoon, lack of proper food and medicines and the hot, humid temperatures can turn relatively minor injuries into life-threatening conditions. The animal’s wound was disinfected and he was given vitamin injections to boost his immunity to disease.

Ms. Bernal and her buffalo.

WSPA vet and volunteers demonstrate how to humanely restrain large animals while delivering medical care.

The team set up mobile veterinary clinics through the province. At each stop they made, children arrived with their puppies and farmers with their livestock.

Two young boys from the same village Jomar Nalagan 10, and MarJo Nalagan Jr. 8, brought their puppies for treatment,

Jomar Nalagan and Lance.

Marjo listens to the vets explain how they are treating his puppy Brownie.

Villagers rely heavily on their animals for eggs and meat. They also help farmers work their fields and harvest their crops so they are integral to the villages long term recovery.

Poultry farmers have sifted through the debris to find live chickens they can relocate after their crops were destroyed in northern Cebu, Philippines. (Photo: WSPA/C. Baldicantos)

Approaching a young bull to assess its health.