Ships carrying live animals continue to run into serious trouble, endangering the lives of thousands of animals and crew.
The recent case of the Spiridon II is just the latest in a long line of maritime disasters involving farm animals.
Spiridon II: A Floating Crisis
The livestock carrier Spiridon II, currently in the port of Beirut in Lebanon, has become a sad symbol of a growing global issue.
The ship departed Uruguay with nearly 3,000 cattle, half of them pregnant, intended for delivery in Turkey. But the vessel was denied entry due to differences in cattle identification records.
The animals remained stuck at sea for a total of 63 days, and hundreds of cows, including newborn calves, died during the transport.
Calves were born into filth and chaos, while decomposing carcasses remain aboard. Hygiene concerns, poor ventilation, high temperatures, and an overwhelmed crew added to the crisis.
Animal welfare groups called it a humanitarian and animal welfare disaster. “We are witnessing one of the most serious violations of animal welfare and marine conservation in recent years,” Maria Boada Saña, veterinarian at Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), said.
– Advertisement –
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
