What seemed like a quiet day of grazing turned into a real emergency in the mountains of the Tolmezzo area, in Friuli Venezia Giulia. A pregnant cow weighing around 800 kilos fell over 300 meters down a cliff in the Dispieris area, ending up stuck in an inaccessible area and unable to move independently.
The owner of the animal raised the alarm and, after identifying the position of the cow, immediately requested the intervention of the rescuers. The situation appeared particularly delicate not only due to the depth of the fall, but also because the cow was in an advanced state of pregnancy, a circumstance which increased the risks both for her and for the calf she was carrying.
The intervention of firefighters and SAF specialists
The firefighters of the Tolmezzo detachment arrived on site together with the operators of the Alpine Fluvial Speleo Unit (SAF) of the Udine command, specialized in interventions in particularly complex and difficult to reach environments. After locating the animal, rescuers began a long phase of assessing its condition.
A veterinarian was also present to supervise each operation, in charge of monitoring the health status of the future mother and ensuring that the maneuvers took place in the least traumatic way possible. The real challenge was to prepare the cow for recovery. The size of the animal, the considerable weight and the conformation of the terrain required meticulous and coordinated work.
@Fire Brigade
Two hours of work to harness the animal
The most complex phase of the entire operation was undoubtedly that of the harness. Approximately ten rescuers and almost two hours of continuous work were needed to correctly position the cow inside the special net used by the firefighters.
Every movement has been studied with extreme attention to avoid further trauma to an animal already damaged by the long fall. Once the placement in the harness was completed, the regional Civil Protection helicopter went into action, a fundamental element for successfully completing the recovery.
@Fire Brigade
The flight to safety: both the cow and the calf are fine
Safely attached to the aircraft, the cow made an unusual journey suspended in the air up to Casera Duron, where it was transported away from the cliff and brought back to a safe area. The operation ended to the satisfaction of the rescuers and the relief of the farmer. The most important result is that both the cow and the unborn calf were saved.
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