The harsh weather sweeping Europe is creating havoc on wildlife and livestock. The situation is so dire that Britain's The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is concerned that the below zero temperatures will push wildlife to "the brink of a crisis".
The bad weather could be the biggest killer of wildlife of the millennium, explained Dr. Mark Avery from the RSPB in a BBC News interview. Numerous species of birds cannot access food and some of the birds are too weak to migrate away from the cold weather. UK residents are being asked to put out food and water for birds to ensure they survive the prolonged cold snap.
Livestock without access to shelter, food and water are also at dire risk in the freezing European temperatures. In Scotland, more than one million of the country’s estimated two and a half million sheep are in dire straits. Unable to access food or water by themselves, farmers are having trouble getting supplies to their livestock and are unable to herd them to shelter due to the severe weather conditions. Cattle, wild horses, goats, and many other animals, are in the same situation throughout Europe with concerns mounting on their chances of survival as the bad weather continues.
Via BBC News & Guardian UK
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