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20s Tourist Dies from Dog Bite
"Stray Dogs Become Serious Threat Factor"

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A tourist site in Chile, South America, famous for desert tours, is facing problems as it has been overrun by stray dogs. After incidents where stray dogs attacked and injured tourists, the local government has begun efforts to eradicate the stray dogs.

On the 11th (local time), Chilean daily La Tercera reported that in San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region in the north, packs of ownerless stray dogs have recently been roaming and threatening people.

Concerns have grown especially after cases of deaths caused by dog bites. In October last year, a 27-year-old tourist went missing and was later found dead; an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was severe bleeding after being bitten by dogs. Earlier this month, a Brazilian tourist was attacked by a pack of dogs and fled, barely escaping danger with the help of a passing driver. The tourist reportedly sustained serious injuries and received hospital treatment. There was also an incident where a 3-year-old child was bitten by a dog, resulting in partial amputation of the ear.

As the number of stray dogs increases, residents are also expressing fear. The local government estimates that the number of ownerless dogs abandoned on the streets has reached about 4,500. Justo Suleta, mayor of Atacama, is pushing for the eradication of stray dogs to solve the problem. He said, "Street dogs have become a serious threat to residents and tourists," adding, "If it is confirmed that the dogs have no owners, it is necessary to eliminate the potential danger."

However, there is an animal welfare controversy locally regarding the stray dogs. Issues include what to do with dogs that have owners but are effectively neglected, what grounds exist to judge a specific dog as potentially dangerous, and whether it is justifiable to allow culling for population control. Local media also reported criticisms that the current law, which states that "in the case of abandoned dogs, after rescue they should be handed over to non-profit organizations and later protected by responsible owners or groups," is being violated.

Meanwhile, the Atacama Desert in Chile is considered a popular tourist destination among travelers. Besides viewing the desert itself, tourists can also enjoy salt lake tours and stargazing tours.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.