URDANETA CITY–Is the carabao, the national animal considered as the farmers’ best friend, under threat of extinction?

Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. of this city, site of the biggest cattle market in the country, believes so and has called on the national government to undertake measures for the preservation of the species.

“If you will look around you, carabaos are already nowhere in sight. They’re becoming passé. Give it five or six years more, you can count with your fingers the carabaos you will see around farm lots,” Perez said.

Perez also noted that the number of carabaos being traded has been on a steady decline over the last 10 years and this situation is “now becoming alarming”.

“Now for every 10 cows, you see only one or no carabao at all,” he added.

Majority of farmers now use mechanized hand tractor locally known as kuliglig for plowing the fields.

Perez said carabaos are also still valuable as a meat product as carabeef is still popular among the poor as a cheaper alternative to pork or beef. #

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments