Authorities in Douala city ordered the slaughter of five stray sheep on Wednesday as part of an ongoing fight against stray animals in the economic capital.
The animals were killed at the Municipal pound along the Youpwe road, a few days after council workers seized and impounded 16 sheep.
The City Council’s communication officer, Victoire Kangue, told journalists the slaughtered sheep will be offered to orphanages and to the Douala Central Prison at New Bell.
The measure, she added, was meant to warn animal owners who continue to let them stray around the city despite prohibitions by the Governor and the City Mayor.
“Some measures have been taken and what you saw today was just a tip of what is going to be done regularly if people don’t respect these measures,” Kangue said.
“What has been done today is actually to create awareness, awareness because the Governor of the Governor of the Littoral Region with the City Mayor they are actually trying to put things together so that our city should be modernized.”
Stray animals, including sheep and cattle, have raised concerns in Douala since April 22, when a bike rider died in an accident in an attempt to dodge a herd of cattle.
The Wouri Senior Divisional Officer, Mboutou Benjamin, warned cattle rearers against letting their animals wander around the city as the case had been.
During a meeting with municipal authorities and cattle owners on April 25, the Littoral Governor, Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, stated that cattle must hence be transported via trucks or rail.
He warned that violators would see their animals seized and impounded.
After impounding 16 sheep, five of which have been slaughtered, the Douala City Council said more seizures will be done subsequently if people do not adhere to the administrative measures.
Those whose cattle have been impounded must show proof of ownership and then pay a fine of FCFA 25,000 to retain them. The deadline for collection was 15 May and those who come after that day will pay FCFA 5,000 for every additional day.
