As the days pass, the situation for all animals in Japan’s disaster area seems to be deteriorating. Dogs and cats already with their owners at evacuation centers are now under threat of being removed. Yet another animal has become almost a ghost in the disaster scenario: suffering horses.

Before the disaster, Fukushima was known as “horse country” but is now better known as “the place where the nuclear reactors have erupted.” According to Elizabeth Oliver, Founder of Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK), “this crisis may be larger than the tsunami itself.”  For pets and animals inside the 2o kilometer (12 mile) no-go zone, Japan’s disaster has taken a turn for the worse.

21 April 2011 Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan banned all people  from entering the 20km zone in Fukushima where ARK and Hisaiba (Horse Rescue) and JEARS have been desperately trying to rescue animals. This area contains many horse barns, cattle, pigs and chickens and family pets. Although many animals have died of starvation or thirst, there are still many thousands left alive. More than 85,000 people have been moved to shelters, just from that area. The ban will be enforced with one-month imprisonment or 100,000 Japanese yen fine. One member of each household will be allowed to make a one-time only two-hour visit to collect personal belongings, wearing protective suits and dosimeters. They will also be prohibited from bringing out pets and other animals. While Japan frowns upon euthanization, the government is “considering”euthanizing dying animals; however, the officials said, “killing animals is the last resort.”

In my previous Japanese horse article, Elizabeth Oliver and Ecomonist newspaper Bureau Chief, Mr. Henry Tricks were rescuing animals inside Fukushima’s 2okm zone, when they came across a horse property whose owner had made his way back home.

Mr Tricks said, “Rushes and driftwood tangled up in the halters hanging on the wall suggest the tsunami rose high up above the horses necks. Some of the stalls collapsed under the weight of the water. In the sun outside, six of the horses lay dead. Many of the living are lacerated along their legs and necks, suggesting sheer panic as they tried to climb out of their stalls. Remarkably, many survived (although most went on to die of starvation and thirst). But when the waters receded, it became clear that the Fukushima atomic-energy plant was spewing out radioactive particles and everyone  within a 20km  radius was evacuated.” (Residents told it was for one night only.) Mr Tricks adds, “Their big trusting eyes conceal unimaginable suffering. Their emaciated bodies say more.”

Of the few surviving horses, nine were eventually moved to a different property. This in itself was a miracle because these starving creatures had to be loaded into the truck, driven for miles, survive the journey, then unloaded at the destination.  A Japanese horse rescue group, Hisaiba, also known as Retired Horses Association (RHA), headed by Chairperson Numata san was contacted  by ARK and arrived a week later and transported the horses. Given the circumstances, this was very good.

When RHA arrived at their destination, and the truck ramp was lowered, Numata san said, “their eyes lit up as they seemed to come alive knowing they were at least safe.” Numata san has a horse vet to attend them. Of the 35 horses, many drowned, many died of starvation and thirst. The horses’ owner, Mr Tanaka is still trying to look after the remaining 16 horses.

23 April 2011 Before the disaster, horses had been bred in the Fukushima area for over one thousand years. Fukushima’s thousand year old annual Samauri and Horse Festival is famous throughout Japan for honoring horses. On the day of the disaster, Fukushima was home for many thousands of horses, ranging from multi-million dollar horses down to little children’s ponies, living in huge stable complexes, ranging down to family backyards.

The Retired Horse Association was already rescuing ex-racehorses prior to the disaster. Since the disaster they now operate under the name Hisaiba, which translates “helping horses in disasters”. Although Hisaiba were the only group to answer ARK’s distress call for urgent help with dying horses, they have received virtually no foreign attention, let alone donations.

Numata san and Elizabeth Oliver: “We have been frantically trying to evacuate as many horses as possible out of Fukushima’s no-go zone, before it’s border was sealed off 22 April, banning anyone from entering (30 days jail and 100,000 Yen fine) A difficulty was all the horses were suffering extreme starvation and dehydration, leaving them grossly ill and weakened. Some of them simply could not walk up the loading ramps. They had to stay behind, which broke our hearts.” According to Numata san, “there are still up to 100 horses trapped inside Fukushima’s no-go zone and we will do everything in our power to rescue these horses immediately when we are granted access. We try for this every day.”

Numata san continues, “In Japan it costs approximately US$375 per month to provide minimal care and feed to one horse. We do not have enough money to keep feeding the horses we have already rescued. We have overseen 20 adoptions, but have so many more with no home prospects at all. We urgently need assistance! Money has become available for many other animals, but horses have become the silent victims. We sincerely ask for warm support from overseas. PLEASE help us save the horses of Fukushima.”

24 April 2011 Sendai: Agriculture officials plan to send a team of veterinarians into the evacuation zone in Fukushima to “view” abandoned pets and animals. Farmers in the area were estimated to have left hundreds of thousands of animals behind when they hurriedly fled the area when the nuclear crisis started. Many animals are believed to have already died from starvation and neglect. Vets will spray lime over dead livestock to prevent the spread of disease. There is no time to bury any of them.”

ARK has been in operation for 20 years and took in hundreds of stray dogs and cats after the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Elizabeth says that rehoming irradiated horses is another matter. Elizabeth explains, “ARK has no facilities for keeping horses (at Osaka). The problem now is getting people to risk radiation and brave the police blockades to get in and care for the animals. If the zone extends to 30kms, the situation would get a lot worse.” Numata san also points out, “there is difficulty in getting food supplies and water in.”

25 April 2011 “ARK received a phone call today from Iidate Mura town office (just outside the 20km no-go zone) telling us that town people may be forced to evacuate within a matter of days. There are thousands of animals that may have to be totally abandoned.” Elizabaeth continues, ”We (ARK) are preparing to petition through our lawyers for outside (overseas) organizations to put pressure on the Japanese government to do something in this case. IIidate Mura is only one town; others will be affected too. There are also many farms and large barns in that area.” (Horses, cattle, pigs and chickens could be left to die.)
 

27 April 2011 Elizabeth said, “ARK has sent almost US$4,000 dollars to Hisaiba to feed 10 horses for one month.” Elizabeth confirms, “ARK and Hisaiba are working together to help horses during this disaster period. To donate to Hisaiba, please use ARK’s Paypal at www.arkbark.net and ARK will transfer the donation to Hisaiba.” (Hisaiba do not have their own Paypal.) Or international money orders can be sent  to Hisaiba: 225-1 Motoyahagi, Katori-shi, Chiba prefecture, Japan 287-0025

30 April 2011 ARK  has now taken in 110 dogs, 15 cats and one bird from Tohoku. “Sadly”, Elizabeth points out, “we are asked to go and rescue, but too late. When we arrive, most pets have already died of starvation or dehydration. A dog after the Kobe earthquake survived 44 days, but he had water. In Fukushima the pets are often inside the house, inside dog crates, or tied up. They have no chance of survival without water. The owners believed they would be home the next day.”

Namata san confirms Hisaiba have taken in 29 horses from within the 20km zone. Through their home page, Hisaiba are appealing to people to adopt them. 47 horses are still inside that zone, but Namata san says they are being looked after. The government has said the zone may be extended to 30 km. If the 30 km zone is put into force, there will be around 100 horses in need of immediate evacuation. In anticipation of this, Numata san has appealed to the Govenor of Hokkaido who said, “If that happens, the horses could be moved to Hokkaido.”

Elizabeth said, “Numata san  seems to have the situation in hand and a solution in place. I (Elizabeth) still think Hisaiba urgently need funds to keep feeding the extra 29 horses they now have in their care.” Elizabeth cautions about donations. “When sending donations to Japan, always use Paypal or International Postal Order to an address in Japan.”

2 May 2011 ARK have put out an “urgent plea” to all people throughout the world:  Japanese authorities are preparing to remove all existing pets from evacuation shelters. Print, sign and mail a pet petition form to the Japanese government.

May 5 2011 Every day passing since April 22nd, is another day without food for animals trapped inside the 2okm radiation zone. Many will also not have water. All animal rescue groups are working frantically to beg Japanese  authorities to allow them access into the zone. Time is of the essence. It is estimated that there are still many thousands of animals alive and in need of immediate rescue, including horses!  

Let’s hope ARK has set a new precedent for helping animals. Although ARK are only a small operation, they took their own money donations and gave them to Hisaiba, who needed it even more urgently than ARK did. There are some very large animal rescue groups involved in Japan’s animal rescues, particularly dog and cat rescue. (US $540,400.30 is publicly shown as donations in JEARS chip-in on their website.) On behalf of “all” animals, we pray “all organizations” and individuals will be moved to help Japan’s suffering horses as well.

All photographs by permission of ARK and Hisaiba Horse Rescue.

Tagged as: Animal Refuge Kansai, Elizabeth Oliver, Fukushima, Hisaiba, Horse, Japan, Naoto Kan, Numata San, Retired Horses Associaltion, RHA