Although cattle rustling has always been a prevalent issue in the South Rupununi, a group of small-scale ranchers say rustling has increased since the coronavirus pandemic began and are calling on the relevant authorities to launch an investigation into the matter.
During a recent two-day round-up in the savannahs, six small-scale ranchers from Karaudarnau village discovered that almost all their cattle were missing. The ranchers, who did not want to be named, revealed that after an intense two-day search, they were lucky to find a few. They said that the recent level of theft is far worse than the few annual cases they have had to contend with over the recent years.
There is no central collection of cattle-theft statistics in the area and rustling sometimes goes unreported because its small numbers could be attributed to an animal wandering off. However, when the numbers are larger, there is little doubt that it is the work of cattle rustlers.
Prior to the round-up, there was a reported sighting of three strange men in the area around the village. The men reportedly told villagers that they were hunting for deer. However, it was soon after the men disappeared that the ranchers discovered that their cattle were missing.
A few months ago several persons were apprehended after villagers in Achawib, a community located a few miles away from Karaudarnau, discovered a large number of carcasses at the home of one of the suspects. According to an ex-rancher from Achawib, over the years all his cattle have disappeared and he had not seen a single profit from his herd. He said that due to the prevalence of rustling in the area, he has decided to no longer practice ranching.
One rancher said that at least 20 cattle are missing from his herd, most of which are heifers.
According to the ranchers, cattle-rearing is their main source of income and they do whatever they can to ensure the animals are well taken care of.
The recent incident also left one of the ranchers fearful as the thieves left a message threatening to kill him and all their enemies.
Over the years, when a large amount of cattle goes missing, the ranchers explained, they would notify the local authorities, but those persons would be unwilling to investigate the matter and would say to them “is because y’all don’t take care of them.”
“It has been going [on] for years and the police don’t take it seriously because they say it happens all over the Rupununi but they need to take action now because it is increasing,” one frustrated rancher stated.
In addition, the ranchers speculated that the rustling might be attributed to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic because of the large number of cows stolen. With less economic opportunities available to persons living in the area, they said, people are getting desperate to make some sort of income to sustain their families.
In the South Rupununi communities, there have also been increasing reports of break and entry but when one of the alleged perpetrators was caught in a home, the police told them that he didn’t steal anything so they couldn’t charge him. As a result the individual was released while those in the community maintained that the person should be charged with break and entry with the intention of committing a felony.
Moreover, Stabroek News was told that yesterday that two heifers, one of which is pregnant, were shot with bow and arrow. The two cows were found wandering in the village. While it is unclear who shot the cows, the owner stated that cattle being shot with bows and arrows has also increased over the past few weeks.
In conclusion, the rancher expressed hope that police would launch an investigation into the matter as their livestock is their only source of income and they fear that if the matter goes unaddressed they would eventually be left with nothing and would be unable to sustain their families.
