Serbian authorities come to the aid of stranded livestock on island in the Danube

A rescue operation is currently underway to save trapped livestock on a Serbian island in the River Danube. Approximately 200 cattle, calves, and horses were left stranded on Krcedin island, which is located northwest of Belgrade, after water levels rose and blocked their path back to shore. The rescue mission began on Tuesday and was able to save 60 animals. However, there is now urgency to save the remaining livestock as freezing temperatures and the risk of starvation pose a threat. Krcedinska Ada, the island where the animals are trapped, is situated 3km from the shore and around 50km up the river from Belgrade. The recent change in weather from mild to freezing temperatures has raised concerns for the survival of the animals. Farmers have been pleading for their livestock to be rescued from the island as conditions worsen. Rescue teams from the Serbian military, emergencies department, forestry agency, and local citizens used a raft to transport the animals. However, there have been difficulties with the rescue operation, including the need for a replacement raft due to missing railings and the breakdown of a substitute raft during transportation. The animals have become exhausted and have lost significant weight, with some losing up to 50kg. A new boat has been hired to continue the rescue operation, which includes the challenging task of transporting dozens of wild horses. Time is of the essence due to the freezing weather and increasing hunger. The cattle breeder responsible for some of the trapped livestock has already reported deaths and warns that the remaining animals are at risk. In a regular year, the livestock would have been able to graze and return home by wading through shallow waters for approximately 10km.