MOSCOW, (Reuters) - Two camels perished in freezing temperatures on Russia's border with Ukraine after waiting five days for permission to cross the border, local news agencies reported on Friday.
Another 18 camels remained stuck in a lorry that was destined for Bulgaria, Interfax reported. Local media said the animals had come from the southern Russian republic of Kalmykia.
Ukrainian officials refused the camels permission to enter the country because of fears the animals may carry the highly contagious African Swine Disease, news reports said.
“At present a veterinarian is on the way to this place to find out the cause of death of these animals and to decide where to bury them,” Interfax quoted the spokesman for Rostov regional border guards in Russia as saying.
Temperatures in the region hovered below minus 10 degrees Celsius.
The Rostov region border guard spokesman said he was not authorised to comment on the incident to foreign journalists when contacted by Reuters.
