DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 62,585 animals, including cattle, sheep and goats, have been killed by prolonged drought in Tanzania's northern district of Simanjiro in Manyara region, an official said on Friday.
Sendeu Laizer, vice-chairman of the Simanjiro district council, told a meeting of councilors in the district that the drought situation in the district was alarming.
Laizer said out of the 62,585 killed animals, 35,746 were cattle, 15,136 sheep, 10,033 goats and 1,670 donkeys.
He said livestock officials are continuing to assess the number of animals killed by drought in all the district's villages.
"The prolonged drought is forcing livestock keepers to take refuge to few areas with relative supply of water and grass for grazing," said Laizer.
Christopher Ole Sendeka, a Member of Parliament for Simanjiro constituency, said the drought has forced some livestock keepers to graze their animals in neighboring countries. ■