1,000 Uncontrolled Cows Paralyze North Macedonian Town

A herd of more than 1,000 roaming cattle has taken over Kriva Palanka, a farming town of 19,000 residents in northeastern North Macedonia, and the local government is asking for a 30-day state of emergency to gain the legal power to intervene.

The crisis stems from a failure to enforce a 2024 order by the Food and Veterinary Agency to seize the animals from their three owners. Mayor Sashko Mitovski stated that the agency issued the seizure order but has never carried it out, leaving the municipality without the legal authority to act.

The situation has deteriorated over the last four years. In 2022, the herd numbered approximately 400 animals. Today, Mitovski says the population has grown to over 1,000, with the cows roaming freely through the town and 34 surrounding villages.

Residents report that the cattle descend from the hills mostly at night to feed on gardens and crops. The animals also pose a risk to the town’s water supply and to drivers on the road leading to Bulgaria.

Lazo Stamenkovski, a 71-year-old pensioner living on the town’s outskirts, said the herd has destroyed more than 150 trees in his orchard. He noted that the cows constantly destroy produce and wander onto the highway, creating traffic hazards.

Legal attempts to hold the owners accountable have stalled. One owner was charged and detained last year for obstructing an agency operation to seize the animals. However, Mitovski said the owner was released after an agency inspector testified in court that no obstruction had occurred.

Mitovski convened a crisis management headquarters after concluding that responsible institutions lacked the willingness, commitment, or resources to resolve the issue. He is urging Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s conservative government to declare a temporary state of emergency to provide the necessary funds and resources.

The value of the herd is estimated between 360,000 and 570,000 euros, or $385,000 to $610,000, based on current livestock market prices. Some residents suggest the government could sell the cattle at an affordable price, a move that could benefit a country where at least one-third of the 1.8 million population lives in poverty.

Venka Nikolovska, a 59-year-old housewife, criticized the government for allowing the herd to roam while the country imports meat, milk, and produce. She stated that both the people and the animals are suffering under the current system.

A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday evening. The herd remains in the hands of the Food and Veterinary Agency, which holds the legal property rights to the animals but has not acted on its own seizure order.