Rhinos, giraffes stranded at sea

[Guest guest]

From the National Post online. (My only question really is- why are these

animals being shipped around needlessly in the first place?)

 

Rhinos, giraffes stranded at sea

Fears of foot and mouth disease

 

Corinna Schuler

National Post

 

JOHANNESBURG - It is a modern-day Noah's Ark. A boat full of

African rhinos and giraffes is marooned on the high seas near Spain and, like

their biblical ancestors, these animals aren't likely to see

dry land for 40 days.

 

The three rhinos and 24 giraffes left South Africa on Oct. 5

as they set sail for a new home in European zoos and safari parks.

 

But when the cargo ship arrived in Spain two weeks later,

port authorities refused to allow the animals on shore for fear they could

spread a

dreaded foot and mouth disease that has recently plagued

South African farm animals.

 

Two days of negotiations between Spanish and South African

officials failed to resolve the dispute. Now, the animals are being returned --

without having had a single day of fresh air or exercise.

 

" They will have been afloat for 40 days and nights before

they get back here -- and that is far longer than we ever expected, " says Jeff

Richmond

of Global Wildlife Logistics, the company that shipped the

consignment overseas.

 

" We are very concerned about the welfare of the animals. "

 

The case highlights the almost hysterical fear the world's

agricultural community has of a virus that causes harmful lesions on the hooves

and

mouths of farm animals -- and can be spread in a mere

breeze.

 

" There is nothing wrong with those giraffes, " insists Johann

van Wyk, the Department of Agriculture official who quarantined the wild animals

before their departure.

 

" We tested for foot-and-mouth disease and they tested

negative. It makes no sense, what the Spanish are doing now ... They are just

bloody

scared, that's what it is. "

 

South African farms had been free of the disease for years,

but a September outbreak in Kwa-Zulu Natal has forced agriculture officials to

slaughter more than 4,000 pigs, cows, sheep and goats, the

only way to stop spreading the disease.

 

New Zealand, the European Union and at least four African

countries have banned livestock exports from South Africa. Frazzled officials at

the

Foot and Mouth Control Centre in South Africa say the virus

threatens to cripple the country's farming sector.

 

But Mr. Van Wyk maintains there is no chance the animals

have been infected.

 

The Spanish Veterinary Authority inspected the South African

quarantine facility earlier this year. The Spanish government granted import

permits without a hitch and the animals were kept at least

50 kilometres away from the virus region before shipping.

 

" The incubation period for foot and mouth is 14 days, but

those animals have already been on the ship for 21 days, " explains Mr. Van Wyk.

" If

they had the disease, they would be showing the symptoms. "

 

The boat was diverted to Malta and its cargo was transferred

to a vessel bound for South Africa.

 

" The animals won't die because of the length of time on the

ship, " says Karen Trendler, a wildlife specialist at the International Fund for

Animal

Welfare.

 

The wildlife company says the animals are still in good

condition. They are expected back in South Africa by the end of the week.

--

 

Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com

 

 

 

 

Powered by Outblaze