Nepal Emergency Appeal
The 2026 Nepal Floods: What Happened to the Animals, and Who's Helping Them
Most coverage of the Nepal floods has focused on the human toll, and rightly so. But the disaster left another crisis largely uncounted: tens of thousands of animals lost, stranded, or displaced, with almost no official response built for them. Here's what actually happened, what it did to Nepal's animals, and who's stepping in where the gap is widest.
What Happened on August 26
On August 26, 2026, a glacier collapsed above Rasuwa district in Nepal. The collapse sent a wall of ice, rock, and debris crashing down the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, tearing through the valleys below with almost no warning for the villages downstream. Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts were hit hardest.
Homes came apart. Roads and bridges went with them. The human toll was severe and widely reported at the time. What received far less attention is what happened in the fields, farmyards, and streets along the flood path, where animals were swept away, buried, or left standing in the wreckage with nowhere dry to go.
The Toll on Animals
More than 26,000 livestock have been lost or left stranded, according to Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. That figure is still rising as access to affected areas improves and more of the damage becomes visible. Surviving livestock have lost access to pasture, stored feed, and clean water, which turns a one-day disaster into a slower, ongoing crisis for the animals that made it through the initial flooding.
Companion animals, dogs and cats, have scattered into unfamiliar areas after fleeing the floodwaters. Many are frightened and severely traumatised. On-the-ground animal welfare teams have reported encountering dogs too terrified to allow rescuers to approach them, in areas that remain difficult to access weeks later.
None of this shows up in most disaster reporting, which tends to count people, homes, and infrastructure. Animals rarely make the official tally, even when the number affected runs into the tens of thousands.
Who's Responding
Sneha's Care is the frontline organisation working in Rasuwa and Nuwakot right now, wading through the wreckage, pulling animals free, and treating what they can with what they have. Sneha Shrestha, who leads the team, put it plainly: "It is very sad that work, which should be done by the government, we're doing it from our side."
No government support specific to animal welfare has arrived. Sneha's Care, alongside a small number of other Nepalese animal welfare organisations, is effectively the response for animals in the flood zone.
The Funding Gap
Global Animal Welfare Fund has set a $100,000 goal for this appeal, covering the fuel, transport, and emergency veterinary care Sneha's Care needs to reach stranded animals. Every dollar raised is tracked and published, so donors can see exactly where it went rather than trusting a general claim.
Learn more about the team funding this response.
Meet Sneha's Care →The Match That's Making Donations Go Further
Global Work & Travel is matching every dollar raised for this appeal, dollar for dollar, while the match lasts. A $20 gift becomes $40. A $50 gift becomes $100. A $100 gift becomes $200. It's a meaningful reason to give now rather than later.
How to Help
If you're ready to act, the fastest and most direct option is donating through the Nepal Emergency Appeal. We've also put together a fuller breakdown of practical ways to help, including how to verify any charity you're considering, in how to help animals affected by the Nepal floods.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many animals have been affected by the Nepal floods?
More than 26,000 livestock have been lost or left stranded, according to Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and that number is still rising. Companion animals have also scattered into unfamiliar areas, though a precise count for them isn't available.
Is the Nepal floods animal crisis still ongoing?
Yes. Rescue teams are still working through affected areas, official livestock figures are still rising, and many areas remain difficult to access.
Who is responding to the animal welfare side of the disaster?
Sneha's Care is the frontline organisation working in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, alongside other Nepalese animal welfare groups. No government support specific to animal welfare has arrived.
Is my donation to the Nepal appeal tax-deductible?
No, not at this stage. Global Animal Welfare Fund is a registered Australian charity, but Australian tax law generally only grants tax-deductible status to animal charities directly operating animal care facilities within Australia.
The Numbers Are Still Rising. So Is the Need.
Weeks on from the initial collapse, animals are still being found stranded and rescue teams are still short of what they need. Every dollar given to this appeal is matched, dollar for dollar, and reaches Sneha's Care immediately.
Your gift is doubled, dollar for dollar, by Global Work & Travel.