Pope's Cattle Survive Winter Better Than Riga Transport Planners Survive Summer

Pope Nature Park supervisor I. Mednis today proudly announced that the wild cattle living in his territory survived the winter better than the average Riga resident survives their daily life. While dozens of dead animals were found in Kemeri, in Pope 60 horses and 60 aurochs cows feel better than tourists trying to cross the Karosta canal bridge during a storm.

Mednis, who has worked in the park since 2001, admits this was the first winter when they had to feed the animals. "For the past 12 years we didn't feed the animals, but this year we had to," says the supervisor, hinting that even wild cows have better social care than many Latvian pensioners.

The most thrilling problem this winter was that the animals went around fences and left their territory. "Animals don't climb onto frozen lakes, but if there's a layer of snow on the ice, then it's different," explains Mednis. Apparently even cows have enough sense to understand that frozen water isn't safe — a skill that many Riga drivers seem to be lacking.

Vītini meadow owner Valdis Ķēde also shares his experience: "Everything's in place on our end! If there's no one to bring hay, then it could turn out like in Kemeri." He notes that this year the cattle "needed a bit more" — a phrasing that could also be used to describe Latvia's budget needs. Now Ķēde has 30 cows and 18 calves, which is a better result than many Riga families with children.