14,000 Australian Sheep Endure Three Months in Transit but Their Ordeal is Not Over Yet
The Australian Alliance for Animals is calling for an end to live sheep exports and for the Department of Agriculture to commit to full transparency around the conditions faced by approximately 14,000 sheep and 1,000 cattle onboard the ill-fated MV Bahijah, which is due to arrive in Israel today following its latest 34-day voyage.
KEY POINTS
The animals endured a second export voyage after the original attempt was aborted due to concerns of Houthi Rebel attacks in the Red Sea
In total, the animals have spent 74 days on the water and were in-transit for over three months (including on land)
The Department must release the daily and end of voyage reports, along with mortality rates (including those between the export voyages)
Alliance spokesperson, Dr Jed Goodfellow said the cumulative stress faced by the animals was severe and has called on the Department to commit to full transparency around the voyage.
“These animals have been from pillar to post since early January, enduring heat waves, rough seas, intense, prolonged confinement, and multiple stressful changes to their environment. And after all of this, they now face being slaughtered while fully conscious in an Israeli abattoir.
“The fact that this voyage was approved in the first place, let alone for a second time, shows yet again that animal welfare comes in a distant second to commercial considerations in decision-making around this trade.
“The truth is, we will never know the full reality of what these animals experienced because the Department chose not to require an independent observer to accompany the vessel, there are no requirements for CCTV monitoring under the export regulations, and sheep are not individually identified and traced.
“The only people who really know what happened are those who were on the boat, and they all have a vested interest in protecting the trade’s reputation.
“Just this week, the media reported on fresh allegations of exporters grossly underreporting mortality rates to the Indonesian Government.
“Without independent verification, we cannot trust what exporters and their employees tell us about the conditions faced by the animals.
Dr Goodfellow has called on the Albanese Government to honour its commitment to end live sheep exports and publicly release its transition plan with clear legislative timelines.
“How much more suffering do we need to see before the government acts on its election promise to end this cruel and unnecessary trade?
“The transition to the chilled and frozen lamb and mutton trade is already underway, sparing tens of thousands of sheep from a long and arduous journey towards a cruel slaughter.
“Many producers have already moved towards more ethical and sustainable markets, strengthening rural economies through increased investment and value-adding in local supply chains via the chilled meat export trade, creating new jobs and providing producers with a profitable and secure income stream.
“The time to legislate the date to phase out the live export trade is now.”
NOTES FOR MEDIA
Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765
Dr Goodfellow is available for interviews:
Dr Jed Goodfellow leads the Alliance’s law and policy reform agenda. He has over 20 years’ experience in animal welfare law, policy and advocacy. He completed his PhD in animal welfare regulation in 2015.
About the Australian Alliance for Animals
The Australian Alliance for Animals is a national charity leading a strategic alliance of Australia’s key animal protection organisations with a combined supporter base of over 2 million people. Core members include Animals Australia, Humane Society International Australia, World Animal Protection Australia, Compassion in World Farming, FOUR PAWS Australia, and Voiceless, the animal protection institute. Website: www.allianceforanimals.org.au.