STORY: Heatwave takes toll on Yemen's precious indigenous Arabian horses
DATELINE: Aug. 29, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:50
LOCATION: Sanaa
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of an equestrian school in Sanaa
2. various of keepers spraying water onto horses to cool down the animals amid the summer heat

STORYLINE:

The unbearable summer heat in Yemen this summer is posing a threat to the health of the country's rare and precious indigenous Arabian horses.

In the capital city Sanaa, the high altitude and lack of shade make it difficult for animals to cool down, and the dry air can exacerbate respiratory problems.

Yahya al-Baidhany, a keeper of the Arabian horses at Al-Raad Equestrian School in Sanaa, said most of the residents in Sanaa had not foreseen the heatwave's severity this year.

"We used to let the horses roam freely in the fields during summer, without much concern for the heat. But this year, it's different. The horses prefer staying in the stables, especially during the scorching midday hours," said the keeper.

Al-Baidhany said he was worried about the long-term effects of the heatwave on the horses.

"We are seeing signs of distress in their health. They are losing weight and their coats are becoming dull. I fear the possibility of heatstroke, which can be fatal for horses," he said.

The heatwave is just one of the many challenges facing animals in Yemen. The country is also in the midst of a civil war, which has caused widespread damage to infrastructure and led to a shortage of food and water.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi militia took control of several northern provinces, leading to the displacement of the internationally recognized government.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sanaa.
(XHTV)