Disorders of the desert greens

HYDERABAD: Though the sand dunes in Thar Desert are dressed in green after the recent rains, herders said it was unfit for animal consumption.

Herders have noticed the abrupt growth of an alien salty plant, locally known as ‘vesuni’, which is toxic and causes health problems in animals. After eating the plant, the animals can lose their eyesight, and small animals get diarrhoea.

Kachromal, a goat and sheep herder from Chhachhro in Tharparkar district said, “The situation is very worrying for us (shepherds), since the grass disappears quickly, ‘vesuni’ attracts animals during the monsoon season.”

The local grass, also referred to as ‘chocolate grass’, is disappearing fast due to overgrazing, excessive use of tractors, and wind erosion. This leaves only vesuni, which now has become a challenge for the herders and their animals.  This invasive species grows fast and often leaves no room for the healthy and beneficial plants to grow after rains. The specie is not native to Thar and was probably carried to the region by migrating herds.

Another farmer Abdul Hakim, who owns his own flock of sheep and some heads of camels in Chhachhro, said this grass also affected the health of camels. “I am worried too,” he admitted.

On the question of treatment, the herdsmen said they preferred the elders’ wisdom for taking care of their animals and their ailments.

Dr Pershotam Khatri, Chairman, Department of Animal Reproduction at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, who collected reports from senior veterinary officers, stakeholders, and livestock herders of Thar, said, "Few scattered deaths have been caused by indigestion and poisoning in the desert, including in Chehkar, Mithi and adjacent areas.”  Dr Khatri said the animals were affected only if they consumed the plant in large quantities. “The maximum height of these plants is one foot, and they harm mostly mammals. It is more harmful when the plant is young and the animal consumes plenty of water,” he said.  Informing about the symptoms, Dr Khatri said that the animals showed signs of higher respiratory rate. “However, a post mortem of the dead animals and chemical analysis are necessary to conclude the actual etymology causing indigestion and poisoning," he recommended.

Ali Akbar Rahimo, working on water, alternate energy and education in the desert, said that introducing alien species in the desert was harming the environment. “It is increasing greenery, but the plants are actually not environment-friendly,” he said, questioning the lack of understanding on part of government officials and experts. He urged the authorities to investigate and eradicate the plant to avert a disaster.  A few years ago, vesuni plant was discovered in small pockets of the desert. However, since the species was invasive, it had appeared on a larger scale, harming the livelihood of the herders.

Thar has six million livestock heads, which is 15 percent of the total livestock population in Sindh. The government allocates only one percent of the annual budget for Tharparkar district livestock management.

The measure of poverty in Thar is different. A family which does not own a single goat is called poor.

Dr Dileep Kumar Rathor, working for a private organisation, claims to have vaccinated 50,000 goats, sheep, and other small animals in different villages of Chhachhro to avert an outbreak of diseases. He said they had yet to identify the real cause of these diseases in animals. “There is no laboratory to conduct chemical analyses of this particular grass and its effects on animals,” he said.

According to Dr Rathor, contaminated water ponds were also a major cause of disease in animals. “We have found that due to environmental changes, stagnant water ponds also cause health problems for small animals. We suggest herders to vaccinate their animals to avoid losses in case of diseases, which often erupt after rains," he said.