Stray cows wander busy street in India for bread handouts

More than 5 million cows wander freely as strays in India. Because roughly 80 per cent of the population is Hindu, which is a religion that reveres cows, killing of cows is largely prohibited in India. Farmers cannot afford to feed cows that no longer produce milk so they are forced to set them free. These beautiful and gentle animals wander as strays and eat out of dumpsters, rubbish piles, compost heaps, and graze on what little vegetation they can find. This small collection of cows made their way through a market in Delhi, finding some kind souls with a little bread for them.

Within the city, there is very little food for the cows and many rely on bread and vegetable scraps provided by kind street vendors and shop owners. The cows wander through the busiest of streets, unable to avoid traffic, often causing slow downs and hazards. Cows will occasionally find their way to vegetable stalls and food tables where they may try to sneak a free meal before being chased away by the vendors.

People make their way around the cows as best they can but the cows cause occasional accidents, especially at night. The government has invested money in cow sanctuaries and shelters, but these are overflowing, despite heroic efforts by animal lovers and volunteers.

Cows are also at risk as they wander and eat from garbage piles. They ingest plastic which can lead to serious health problems and even death. The most frequently consumed plastic is single use bags. This builds up in the cows' stomachs and inhibits digestion. Because waste management is severely lacking in India, the streets are littered with garbage and waste. It is all to easy for the cows to ingest large quantities of cellophane as they search for food.

Another issue that is involved with the cow problem is the poverty that the farmers face. They simply cannot manage to care for the cows once their milk production drops. Some cannot afford to maintain a herd without turning them loose to feed themselves.

As government and concerned people struggle to find a solution, the population of stray cows continues to increase. Without sufficient funds and great effort, the problem will only get worse.