After mid-day highlighted the case of horses in Matheran experiencing temporary vision loss owing to eye infections, a veterinarian from the Animal Husbandry Department arrived at the hill station for examination. The veterinarian said, “We have already started examining the horses, and the two that are under treatment are recovering well. We will also be setting up medical camps in the coming days. We would like to appeal to the owners in Matheran to come forward with any cases of eye infection in their horses. This is the first time that we have observed such an infection in horses.”
On September 19, mid-day’s report stated how a mysterious ailment was causing Matheran’s iconic horses to lose their eyesight, sparking concern among owners. According to experts, the illness begins with blindness in one eye and progresses to complete loss of vision. A private veterinarian, who initially assessed the situation, suggested that water and other samples should be collected, as the infection could be linked to the water the horses are drinking.
Dr Anil P Lahane, an equine veterinarian and founder of Pune-based organisation Ashvaseva, commented, “The blood samples from the horses tested negative for all known infections. At this point, it is crucial for both horse owners in Matheran and the relevant government authorities to investigate whether the infection could be linked to the local water supply.
They need to look into potential causes, such as airborne transmission, flies, or water contamination. Specifically, it would be important to check for Acanthamoeba in the water, which could pose a risk.” Vishal Akhde, a horse owner from Matheran, had told mid-day that during Ganeshotsav, two of her horses, Kiaan and Oman, had developed infections, resulting in swelling and a change in eye colour. He had never seen this before. Unfortunately, the infection led to partial blindness in both horses, following which he informed private veterinarians, who began the treatment. According to the locals, the most worrying part is that Matheran does not have a full-time government veterinarian.
There are approximately 450 horses and around 200 ponies in Matheran, and the livelihoods of around 350 families of ghodawalas and 250 of their helpers, who ferry goods and people on horseback, depend on them for their daily bread. This newspaper has shed light on the sorry state of the government veterinary clinic at Matheran and locals’ long-standing demand for better facilities.
