Fwd: Media Release - (Some) Cattle Exports halted to the Middle East

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" Helen (Animals Australia) " <enquiries wrote:

" Helen (Animals Australia) "

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Media Release - (Some) Cattle Exports halted to the Middle East

Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:52:51 +1000

 

 

 

 

(Some) Cattle Exports halted to the Middle East

 

Animals Australia welcomes today's announcement by Federal Minister Warren Truss

to halt shipments of bos taurus cattle from Southern Australia to parts of the

Middle East - but says it's too little, too late.

 

The decision was made after 900 cattle from a shipment of 1,995 died on board,

or shortly after off-loading, the M.V. Becrux - a supposedly 'state of the art'

vessel - on it's maiden voyage to Saudi Arabia.

 

Animals Australia Executive Director, Glenys Oogjes, said today, " Whilst news of

this partial ban is heartening, neither cattle nor sheep should be sent to the

Middle East nor to South East Asia because the same problems keep occurring! Our

animals are travelling from one hemisphere to the other – cold to hot and humid

climates, and the reverse during our summer. "

 

" These animals also must endure terrible conditions during the journey, and then

at their destination are faced with rough handling and then slaughter whilst

fully conscious. "

 

The Minister has ordered the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Livecorp to conduct an urgent

and thorough investigation into the mortalities on board the MV Becrux.

 

Ms Oogjes said, " This is an automatically triggered inquiry, not a

Minister-initiated inquiry. The Government has sat on its hands while our

animals suffer once they leave Australia "

 

Ms Oogjes concluded with the question, " How many sheep also died on that fateful

journey? The sheep experienced the same conditions. Thousands of sheep and

cattle are exported every week and the cruel trade in lives must end

immediately. "

 

Animals Australia does not support the export of ANY live animals at ANY time

due to the rigours of the journey, extremities in climatic change and the many

tragedies that continue to occur, such as disease, onboard fires and lack of

ventilation.

 

Also of concern are the numerous rejections of our animals at the countries of

destination, (11 ships by Saudi Arabia during 1989 and 1990, two by Korea in

2001, and now this shipment). Once rejected the extra time on board and the lack

of ship movement exacerbates the heat and other problems for the animals. See

the Animals Australia website for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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