Activists protest against export of live animals by ship
ACTIVISTS proclaimed their abhorrence of live animal exports at the Abbottsford off-ramp to the N2 yesterday as thousands of cattle and goats were loaded on to livestock carrier the Holstein Express at the East London Port yesterday.
The Holstein Express docked at 3.30pm on Wednesday and the loading of cattle and goats began at 8.30am yesterday.
The Page Farming Trust (PFT) has been exporting live animals to Mauritius for about 17 years.
Animal rights activists are opposed to animals being transported in livestock vessels, saying animals suffered intense fear and discomfort during the sea journey, which they said could last almost two weeks depending on sea conditions.
“I think it is an atrocity that these animals are being subjected to live sea export, which is the cruellest form of transport,” said Compassion in World Farming and Ban Animal Trading Johannesburg’s representative Eileen Chapman, who flew to East London to join the protest.
“They become seasick, slip in their own excrement and sometimes can’t get up. They arrive mentally and physically broken. It would be preferable to slaughter them prior to export .... It is blatant abuse and we should all aim to stop it.”
But PFT director Glen Page said the Holstein Express had transported animals in the past, and that it conformed to all international standards and to Australian protocol.
“The implications for the industry are too great to stop,” said Page. “The animals are the best quality in South Africa and the Mauritian clients that supply the Mauritian abattoir for the Mauritian halaal market are very specific. According to their specifications they prefer to slaughter themselves.”
He said it would take six days for the cattle ship to reach Mauritius.
Animal Warriors’ East London founder Sandy Taylor said trucks transporting animals for loading at the port would be escorted by a bakkie bearing the banner “Ban Animal Trading” to raise awareness.
According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (NSPCA’s) farm animal protection unit manager, Andries Venter, who was monitoring the loading, about 3 000 cattle and goats were to be transported to Mauritius. He said a vet had picked up problems, including the inappropriate handing of animals and animals getting stuck in the races (aisles) of the ship.
“We have three members on board and two members outside watching the offloading of the trucks. The NSPCA has been actively involved to stop transport by sea because we have research showing the animals do suffer during the journey.”
Page said he was expecting the ship to set sail for Mauritius by last night or early this morning, depending on when loading was completed.