As the ship carrying livestock docks at Cape Town port, a foul odor escapes and spreads throughout the city’s business district. Residents of Cape Town were awakened on February 19 by the stench, as the ship Al Kuwait, carrying around 19,000 head of cattle, some of which were believed to have died, dropped anchor on Sunday evening.
After spending eight days at sea following its departure from Brazil, the ship made an emergency stop at the port of Cape Town to replenish its supplies of fuel, water, food and medicines, both for the crew and for the animals. Dr Zahid Badroodien, Cape Town Municipal Committee member for water and sanitation, said he had been informed of a pervasive “sewage smell” in parts of the city, including Woodstock, Observatory, Greenpoint and business district.
Representatives from the National Council of Humane Societies (SPCAs) and the Cape of Good Hope SPCA came on board to assess the welfare of the animals transported on the ship. In a statement released on Monday, the NSPCA said: “We are heeding concerns raised by members of the public regarding the foul odor coming from the ship and permeating the town center and surrounding areas. This stench is indicative of the horrific conditions in which the Animals are kept, having already spent 2½ weeks on board, with the accumulation of droppings and ammonia. The smell on board is unimaginable, but the animals deal with it every day.”
The ship is expected to leave the port at 9:00 p.m. Monday evening to continue its journey to its final destination in Iran.