HANDLE WITH CARE
The global initiative to bring an end to long distance transport of animals. Download PDF to learn more (1.8MB)
In terms of the sheer amount of animals involved as well as the numbers who die en route, Australia’s live export trade is arguably the world’s cruellest trade.
SHEEP
Through out the 1990s, almost six million sheep every year were exported from Western Australia to the Middle East. The sea journey from Australia can take up to three weeks, and during just one year, over 150,000 sheep died during these long sea journeys. Live trade continues today, and livestock continue to die in overcrowded, overheated and disease-ridden ships.
The main cause of death - apart from disasters like the Uniceb, which caught fire in 1996 - is failure to eat. On board ship the sheep are fed on dry pellets, and sheep who cannot adjust to this diet, may well starve during the journey. Others perish from heat stroke and a range of injuries and diseases including salmonellosis.
The number of sheep who die is, moreover, only the tip of the iceberg. Many others suffer terribly during the long journeys even though they survive. Even once the animals reach the Middle East their ordeal is still not over. Most will be ritually slaughtered - their throats will be cut while they are fully conscious and they will be left to bleed to death.
In 2002, 4 shipments of sheep recorded high mortality rates en route to the Middle East. Total deaths from these 4 shipments alone total 15,156 animals. In 2003 several thousand sheep have died on board the MV Cormo Express after a shipment of 57,000 sheep were rejected from several middle eastern ports.
CATTLE
The last decade has seen a huge explosion in the number of live cattle exported from Australia, with over a million cattle annually suffering long sea voyages in order that they arrive alive to their overseas buyers. Most of the animals involved in live trade will be killed once they reach their destination. The vast majority of these are sent to South East Asia, although some endure the long sea journey to the Middle East.
The suffering inherent in the live export trade was highlighted when in January 1999, 800 cattle suffocated on a ship en route from Darwin to Indonesia. The dead animals - about 80% of those on board the vessel bound for Irian Jaya - were thrown overboard. In 1996 the Guernsesy Express sank killing 1,592 cattle. In 1998, 154 cattle and 283 goats died after a financial dispute delayed unloading of the Anomis in Malaysia. Also in 1998 346 head of cattle perished on the Charolais Express en route to the Middle East. Another 50 died while in port in Jordan and a further 174 injured or ill cattle were rejected on arrival in the Middle East. These animals were apparently killed and disposed of at sea on the return journey.
Further mass mortalities include in 1999, 829 cattle suffocated due to ventilation failure on the Temburong during a voyage from Darwin to Irian Jaya; in 1999, 300 cattle died of injuries when the Kalymnian Express met a cyclone on a trip from WA to Indonesia; in 2000, 99 cattle died when the NV Narvantes travelling from Darinw to Jakarta hit bad weather; in 2002, 200 cattled died due to transport delays on the NV Maysora on a trip from Australia to Israel; in 2002, 880 cattle and 1400 sheep died after the NV Becrux met extreme temperatures in the Arabian Gulf.
HSI is totally opposed to the export of live sheep and cattle from Australia. With modern refrigeration methods the animals could be slaughtered in Australia with the meat then being exported.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
If you would like to take action on this issue please write to the following Ministers. Ask that the Government considers the terrible suffering of the animals involved in the live trade industry, and acts to outlaw live trade in light of the fact that modern refrigeration methods available.
The Hon. Tony Burke MP
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Fax No. (02) 6273 4120
Email: Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au
The Hon. Simon Crean MP
Minister for Trade
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Fax No. (02) 6273 4128
Email: S.Crean.MP@aph.gov.au
The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Fax (02) 6273 4100
http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
Please send any replies you receive to us.
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