More than 1,000 cattle are estimated to be roaming freely across Kriva Palanka, damaging farmland and private property, threatening road safety and exposing a problem that local authorities say they can no longer manage alone.
KRIVA PALANKA, North Macedonia, Nov. 14, 2026 (BalkanView) – A town in northeastern North Macedonia has attracted international attention over an unusual crisis: more than 1,000 cows roaming freely through streets, residential neighbourhoods and farmland, prompting its mayor to request emergency intervention from the government.
Kriva Palanka Mayor Sashko Mitovski has called for a 30-day crisis declaration to help authorities tackle a problem that has grown steadily over the past five years and increasingly threatens public safety and private property.
The situation has drawn coverage from international media, including Euronews and the Associated Press, turning a longstanding local problem into an unusual story of institutional shortcomings.
Videos circulating on social media show cattle wandering through streets, grazing on public green spaces and moving between residential buildings, sometimes at night.
Residents say encounters with the animals have become part of everyday life, raising concerns about personal safety and damage to gardens, agricultural land and other property.
From 400 to more than 1,000 cattle
Mitovski said the number of freely roaming cattle across the municipality had increased from around 400 five years ago to more than 1,000 today, according to local estimates.
Municipal authorities say they lack the infrastructure, financial resources and facilities needed to accommodate such a large number of animals.
Some of the cattle previously belonged to a family whose members were detained after allegedly obstructing an attempt by the Food and Veterinary Agency to seize the animals, according to media reports.
However, the cattle were not subsequently placed in suitable facilities and continued roaming across the municipality.
The situation has left local authorities struggling to contain a problem that extends beyond animal control.
Threats to farmland, roads and water supplies
Residents have reported damage to agricultural land, orchards, gardens and private property.
The animals’ presence on roads has also raised concerns about traffic safety, particularly along routes connecting North Macedonia with neighbouring Bulgaria.
The Associated Press reported that residents had expressed concerns about potential risks to the town’s water supply.
Local media have also reported that affected residents are considering legal action over property damage, while municipal authorities have announced plans to compile a register of reported losses.
The total financial cost of the damage has not been established.
For farmers and property owners, the question is increasingly not only how the animals will be removed, but also who will compensate them for their losses.
Mayor calls for government intervention
Mitovski hopes a 30-day crisis declaration would enable closer coordination between municipal authorities and national institutions, allowing them to mobilise additional resources and implement measures to bring the cattle under control.
The municipality says a lasting solution will require facilities to accommodate the animals, adequate veterinary oversight and cooperation between the institutions responsible for public safety and livestock management.
The proposed emergency measures are intended to address a problem that local authorities say has exceeded their capacity to manage independently.
There was no confirmation in the reports reviewed that the government had approved the mayor’s request.
An unusual story with a serious institutional problem
While images of cows wandering through an urban centre have attracted amusement and attention internationally, the situation has highlighted more serious questions about institutional coordination and responsibility.
The growing number of roaming animals raises questions about livestock ownership, enforcement of veterinary regulations and the ability of public institutions to intervene when local authorities lack sufficient resources.
The case also illustrates the difficulties smaller municipalities can face when addressing problems that require cooperation across several levels of government.
For Kriva Palanka’s residents, however, the international attention offers little immediate relief.
Their priority remains protecting their property, restoring safety on the streets and finding a permanent solution to a problem that has persisted for years.