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Cow Survives Rare Surgery to Remove 200 Pounds of Plastic from Digestive Tract
15 Oct
Summary
- Veterinarians removed nearly 200 pounds of plastic from a cow's digestive tract in India
- The challenging 5-hour surgery was a life-saving intervention for the pregnant cow
- Plastic pollution poses a grave threat to livestock and wildlife, highlighting the need for awareness
On October 10th, 2025, veterinarians at the Kodada Regional Veterinary Hospital in Telangana, India, performed a groundbreaking surgery to remove a massive amount of plastic from a pregnant cow's digestive tract. The challenging 5-hour-long operation was led by a local veterinarian, who reported that the cow had ingested "large amounts of plastic covers, electrical cables, cloth strips, and other non-digestible waste" over time.
"This was one of the most difficult surgeries we have performed," the vet told ETV Bharat. "It is a reminder of the dangers of plastic pollution, not just to the environment but also to innocent animals." The successful surgery was a life-saving intervention, and the cow is now in recovery under veterinary supervision.
This case highlights the grave threat that plastic pollution poses to livestock and wildlife. While this particular cow was fortunate to survive, other animals have not been as lucky, succumbing to the same predicament of ingesting non-biodegradable waste. Locals expressed gratitude for the veterinarians' efforts, emphasizing the need for increased awareness about the importance of properly disposing of plastic waste, especially in rural areas where cattle and other wildlife graze.
