No one has ventured to guess the extent of devastation to horses in tsunami-ravaged areas in Asia. The initial disaster and the resulting shortages of food and clean water could affect many work animals in regions of southern India areas and in areas where horses are integral to daily life. Internationally, animal welfare groups are analyzing the immediate needs and have been sending supplies and veterinarians to care for affected animals.

News reports have suggested that many animals might have sensed the impending disaster and moved inland. This might explain the many reports that while there was mass human devastation, very few animal corpses had been spotted