Pack of stray dogs kills 14 gazelles in Erbil neighborhood

ERBIL — A pack of stray dogs attacked a herd of gazelles in a crowded Erbil neighborhood early Tuesday, killing 14 of them, the owner said.

Mohammed Sarmami, who keeps gazelles in Bahari Nwe neighborhood, told 964media the attack happened around 3 a.m. “My son called me to say dogs had gotten into the gazelles,” he said.

“I have 25 gazelles divided into two groups. The attack happened in one group of 15, and 14 of them were killed,” Sarmami said.

He added that he had raised the animals with care. “I fed them all with milk,” he said, visibly distraught as he explained this was not the first time an attack had occurred.

Sarmami estimated his losses at around $4,000 and urged authorities to capture stray dogs and transfer them to shelters.

Stray dog attacks continue to be a pressing issue in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, leading to increasing calls for measures. Stray dogs have been responsible for several attacks, some resulting in fatalities, particularly among children. Officials in Erbil say more than 30,000 stray dogs have been collected from the city and surrounding areas and transferred to shelters.

In May 2025, a six-year-old boy was left in critical condition after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs in Qucheblbas village in Dashty Hawler district of Erbil governorate.