Cow goes missing after highway accident; sparks concern over lack of animal rescue helpline

A cow hit on the Tiruchi–Thanjavur National Highway on Sunday went missing before veterinary officials could reach the spot, despite Minister for Industries T.R.B. Rajaa promising swift action based on a picture posted by a volunteer on social medai site X. The incident has once again brought into focus lack of a dedicated animal rescue helpline and the operations of illegal slaughter groups on highways.

It all began when a user on X flagged the accident near Asur on Sunday evening saying that the cow hit by a vehicle lay motionless on the median. By 6.34 p.m., Mr. Rajaa responded stating that he had alerted the Thanjavur district administration and that “the animal will be rescued at the earliest.” The Thanjavur SPCA clarified that Asur fell under Tiruchi district and alerted the Tiruchi Animal Husbandry department.

An animal welfare volunteer from a nearby locality rushed to the spot, photographed the cow lying injured, and shared it online. However, with his phone battery drained, he returned home to recharge it. By the time a veterinary team from Tiruchi reached the spot, the cow was not there at the spot and the volunteer’s phone was switched off.

“Though the Minister responded immediately, lack of a direct rescue channel meant the case was delayed and could not be followed up properly,” said G. Ramakrishnan, District Honorary Animal Welfare Representative (AWBI). He stressed that such delays often allowed illegal groups to collect animals hit on highways.

Mr. Ramakrishnan, who has handled several highway rescues, pointed out that on an average around 60 animals were hit by vehicles in three months within the Tiruchi district limits. “Barring a handful of individual rescuers, it is the AWBI volunteer network that usually coordinates with the police, Fire and Rescue Services, and Animal Husbandry department to save these animals. But when cases are only shared randomly on social media, there is no mechanism to reach us directly, leading to fatal delays,” he added.

Animal activists have long been demanding a dedicated toll-free helpline for highway animal accidents. At present, information trickles through emergency helplines such as 100, 101, or 1962 (the State-run animal ambulance number). “People nowadays prefer posting on social media instead of making a call. But those few hours of delay often cost an animal’s life,” Mr. Ramakrishnan said.

Officials in the Animal Husbandry department acknowledged infrastructure challenges. “Rescues rely heavily on local support. Even if an ambulance reaches the spot, lifting a large injured animal requires manpower. Without immediate local help, the process slows down,” a senior official said.

Animal welfare groups allege that unregistered networks track highway accidents to swiftly remove injured cattle, often paying for tip-offs. They warn of fake fundraisers exploiting such cases, stressing that without a regulated helpline, both animal lives and public trust remain at risk.