Jessica Lynn Culver via Getty Images
ニュージーランドで起きた大地震で、土砂崩れの現場に取り残されていた3頭の牛が現地時間11月15日、無事に救出された。カナダ紙「ナショナルポスト」などが報じた。道路が寸断されている中、陸路で駆けつけたボランティアの人々が、鍬やショベルで溝を掘ったという。
14日に起きたM7.8の大地震の結果、牧草地の一画にいた牛3頭の周囲が土砂崩れを起こし、わずかに残った「陸の孤島」で3頭が孤立していた。地元オンラインメディアの「Newshub」が、ヘリコプターから撮影した動画を公開したところ、ネット上で拡散していた。
CNNによると、取り残されていたのは肉牛2頭と子牛1頭で、24時間にわたって水を飲めない状態だった。同じ群れにいた約11頭も無事保護された。飼い主のデリック・ミルトンさんは「困難な作戦だった」と振り返ったという。
なお、今回救出された牛はヘレフォード種で、一般的に肉牛として飼育されている。
■ニュージランド大地震のスライドショー
ニュージーランド大地震
NZEALAND-EARTHQUAKE(01 of13)
This aerial photo taken and received on November 14, 2016 shows earthquake damage to State Highway One near Ohau Point on the South Island\'s east coast.\nA powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed two people and caused massive infrastructure damage in New Zealand, but officials said on November 14 they were optimistic the death toll would not rise further. The jolt, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the quake-prone South Pacific nation, hit just after midnight near the South Island coastal town of Kaikoura. / AFP / POOL / Mark MITCHELL (Photo credit should read MARK MITCHELL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
NZEALAND-EARTHQUAKE(02 of13)
This aerial photo taken and received on November 14, 2016 shows earthquake damage to State Highway One near Ohau Point on the South Island\'s east coast.\nA powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed two people and caused massive infrastructure damage in New Zealand, but officials said on November 14 they were optimistic the death toll would not rise further. The jolt, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the quake-prone South Pacific nation, hit just after midnight near the South Island coastal town of Kaikoura. / AFP / POOL / Mark MITCHELL (Photo credit should read MARK MITCHELL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
Residents Survey Damage Following 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake In New Zealand(03 of13)
KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 14: A huge dam formed by a landslide as a result of the 7.5 earthquake, on the Clarence River north of Kaikoura on November 14, 2016 in New Zealand. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck 20km south-east of Hanmer Springs at 12.02am and triggered tsunami warnings for many coastal areas. (Photo by Mark Mitchell - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
NZEALAND-EARTHQUAKE(04 of13)
New Zealand\'s Prime Minister John Key (R) inspects earthquake damage from a helicopter near Kaikoura on the South Island\'s east coast on November 14, 2016.\nA powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed two people and caused massive infrastructure damage in New Zealand, but officials said on November 14 they were optimistic the death toll would not rise further. The jolt, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the quake-prone South Pacific nation, hit just after midnight near the South Island coastal town of Kaikoura. / AFP / POOL (Photo credit should read /AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
Residents Survey Damage Following 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake In New Zealand(05 of13)
KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 14: A freight train sitting where it came to a halt beside Highway One north of Kaikoura is seen on November 14, 2016 in New Zealand. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck 20km south-east of Hanmer Springs at 12.02am and triggered tsunami warnings for many coastal areas. (Photo by Mark Mitchell - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
Residents Survey Damage Following 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake In New Zealand(06 of13)
KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 14: Earthquake damage on State Highway One north of Kaikoura is seen on November 14, 2016 in New Zealand. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck 20km south-east of Hanmer Springs at 12.02am and triggered tsunami warnings for many coastal areas. (Photo by Mark Mitchell - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
NZEALAND-EARTHQUAKE(07 of13)
A family shares a hug after the children were evacuated by air force helicopter from Kaikoura to Christchurch on November 16, 2016, after an earthquake hit New Zealand on Monday.\nWarships from the United States, Canada and Australia have been drafted in to help earthquake relief efforts in New Zealand after a 7.8 tremor devastated parts of the South Island, officials said on November 16. / AFP / Marty Melville (Photo credit should read MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MARTY MELVILLE via Getty Images)
QUAKE-NEWZEALAND(08 of13)
A Royal New Zealand Air Force member (R) helps evacuate a toddler and others aboard an NH90 helicopter from Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand November 15, 2016, stranded following the recent earthquakes. Sgt Sam Shepherd/Courtesy of Royal New Zealand Defence Force/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. (credit:Handout . / Reuters)
Residents Survey Damage Following 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake In New Zealand(09 of13)
KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 14: Dust created by a strong after-shock hangs above the Clarence River which was blocked, causing a huge dam, north of Kaikoura on November 14, 2016 in New Zealand. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck 20km south-east of Hanmer Springs at 12.02am and triggered tsunami warnings for many coastal areas. (Photo by Mark Mitchell - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
Tourists Evacuated From Earthquake Damaged Regions of New Zealand(10 of13)
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 15: Tourists trapped by the Kaikoura earthquakes arrive by military helicopters at Woodend School grounds on November 15, 2016 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Aftershocks have rocked regions of New Zealand following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed two people yesterday. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images) (credit:Martin Hunter via Getty Images)
Residents Survey Damage Following 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake In New Zealand(11 of13)
KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 14: Earthquake damage on State Highway One and the main trunk railway line north of Kaikoura is seen on November 14, 2016 in New Zealand. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck 20km south-east of Hanmer Springs at 12.02am and triggered tsunami warnings for many coastal areas. (Photo by Mark Mitchell - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
QUAKE-NEWZEALAND/(12 of13)
Local residents Chris and Viv Young look at damage caused by an earthquake along State Highway One, south of the township of Blenheim on New Zealand\'s South Island, November 14, 2016. REUTERS/Anthony Phelps (credit:Anthony Phelps / Reuters)
QUAKE-NEWZEALAND/(13 of13)
A truck drives over the fractured road caused by an earthquake south of the New Zealand town of Ward on the South Island, November 14, 2016. REUTERS/Anthony Phelps (credit:Anthony Phelps / Reuters)
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