In the heart of Cape Town’s harbour, an unusual scene recently captivated the attention of local residents and authorities: a foul stench has spread through the city, causing confusion and concern. The city’s sanitation teams were quickly mobilized, searching for the origin of this unbearable odor.
After an in-depth investigation, the source of this stench was finally identified: a ship docked in the port carrying 19,000 head of live cattle, coming from Brazil and bound for Iraq. This ship has become the center of attention, sparking both critical reactions and concerns for the welfare of the animals transported.
The South African NGO for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals sent a veterinary consultant aboard the ship to assess the animals’ living conditions. The findings were alarming: dead, sick and injured animals, forced to survive in inhumane conditions, bathing in their excrement during weeks of travel.
This situation has reignited the debate on the transport of live animals by sea, a practice decried by many animal rights associations. The suffering inflicted on these sentient beings by unacceptable transport conditions can no longer be tolerated.
The episode of this ship in Cape Town is a poignant reminder of the cruelty and inhumanity of the export of live animals by sea, pleading for an end to this barbaric and obsolete practice. It is high time that concrete measures were taken to protect animals and put an end to their ordeal during these long maritime journeys. Animal welfare must be a top priority, and it is time to put an end to these cruel practices that cause so much suffering.