Exported again: Animals condemned to another month at sea.

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It’s time to legislate the date!

Thousands of sheep and cattle will be re-loaded onto the MV Bahijah and sent on an experimental 34 day voyage to Israel. The decision by the live export regulator shows that even when the risks are so obvious, commercial interests will always outweigh the welfare of the animals. For sheep at least, a phase out of the trade is imminent. Please write a short email to your state's Senators urging them to legislate the date NOW!

A sheep looking out through the bars of a livestock truck. You can just see his eyes, ears and horns. He looks forlorn.
Credit: We Animals Media

It’s time to legislate the date!

Thousands of sheep and cattle will be re-loaded onto the MV Bahijah and sent on an experimental 34 day voyage to Israel. The decision by the live export regulator shows that even when the risks are so obvious, commercial interests will always outweigh the welfare of the animals. For sheep at least, a phase out of the trade is imminent. Please write a short email to your state's Senators urging them to legislate the date NOW!

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This action is for residents of Australia, but you can still help sheep by contacting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese here. Thank you for wanting to protect animals from cruelty!

The Prime Minister’s email address is no longer monitored, but you can still contact Prime Minister Anthony Albanese here. Thank you for wanting to protect animals from cruelty!

By completing this action, you give permission for Animals Australia to contact you. You can unsubscribe from updates at any time.

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Animals Australia

Animals Australia team

Last updated March 4, 2024

For the 16,000 animals at the centre of the MV Bahijah disaster, their fate was sealed on the 5th of January – when Australia’s live export industry was allowed to send them directly into a dangerous conflict zone.

Unable to traverse the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on vessels, the ship was ordered to turn back on January 19 – offering a small glimmer of hope that, finally, decisions would be made that prioritise the welfare of the animals.

That hope was quickly dashed when, upon returning to Fremantle after 2.5 weeks at sea, they were left to languish on the vessel for another fortnight – in the middle of a heatwave. Inconceivably, rather than offload them immediately, the exporter applied for a new permit to re-export the animals via a longer and more gruelling route around Africa.

While that first permit was refused – and the animals were ordered off the ship and confined to quarantine feedlots – it seems a new export permit has now been granted.

After nearly two months in limbo, with all of the cumulative stresses of being in totally inappropriate and unnatural environments, the ultimate fate of these animals was still to be balanced with the commercial interests of the export company. And, once again, the animals lost. 

TAKE ACTION

It was always cruel – now it’s completely reckless too

The live export regulator had strong grounds to reject the export permit application, and our Legal Team has worked tirelessly with our colleague groups here and abroad to ensure they were well aware of them. Yet, they have chosen to approve it, adhering to processes that were not written with the interests of animals at heart.

In reality, there was never going to be a ‘win’ or any truly happy ending for these animals. Bred for the sole purpose of being killed for food, their unnaturally short lives will end in a slaughterhouse. These animals, however, have already endured such significant stress. Exporting them again should never have been an option.

This image contains content which some may find confronting

Sheep on board the MV Bahijah live export ship.
When this picture was taken, these sheep had already been stuck on the MV Bahijah for weeks. Sheep pens are not cleaned out for the duration of live export voyages so the manure just builds up underneath them.
Image credit: Stop Live Exports

While the industry may claim the animals have been ‘rested’ while on land, this ignores the fact that transport stress is cumulative even when not continuous.

It also ignores the reality that being kept in a feedlot is anything but ‘restful’. These animals have been deprived of grazing and moving about freely, and of socialising within their established herd or flock structure. So the negative welfare impacts for these animals have added up day by day – from being herded and transported by land to being loaded and offloaded from the ship multiple times.

In re-applying to export these animals – despite all they have endured – the live export industry has once again revealed its ruthlessness. But this story gets worse. 

Because to get these animals to Israel, while avoiding ongoing conflict in the Red Sea, the exporter will take a longer route around Africa – crossing an area notorious for rough seas and hot temperatures. This extended journey condemns the animals to a collective total of more than 70 days on board the ship.

To even attempt that would be completely experimental. So it's not even long haul. It's not extra long haul. It's really experimental long haul.
Dr Lynn Simpson
Former Live Export Veterinarian

This image contains content which some may find confronting

A map showing the route by sea that the MV Bahijah will take to Israel. The map notes that the journey will take over 34 days, which is nearly double the normal length of this sea journey.
This map shows the extended route the sheep and cattle will be forced to travel over the next 30+ days – just so they can be killed for their meat in Israel.

Live export will always involve animal suffering

That re-loading and shipping these animals once again to Israel was the live export industry’s preferred option, when more humane alternatives exist, presents further evidence as to why this ruthless trade must end. Their ‘animal welfare’ claims have been brutally and completely exposed as PR spin.

Until all animals are spared from this cruel trade, our work continues. For Australian sheep, a time when they are no longer forced to face live export cruelty is closer than ever before. Now, the Albanese Government needs to commit to a date, and lock it in. Can you help speak out for sheep?

Use this form to write a message to your state’s Senators telling them that animals are not cargo. Tell them it’s time to legislate an end to live sheep export.

 people are helping.
Animals Australia
* Indicates required field.

This action is for residents of Australia, but you can still help sheep by contacting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese here. Thank you for wanting to protect animals from cruelty!

The Prime Minister’s email address is no longer monitored, but you can still contact Prime Minister Anthony Albanese here. Thank you for wanting to protect animals from cruelty!

By completing this action, you give permission for Animals Australia to contact you. You can unsubscribe from updates at any time.

Loading...


Your details are safe, refer to our privacy policy

* Indicates required field.

Please add a subject line, and consider editing in your own words. Personalised letters have a greater impact for animals.

Your representative is:

Your Senators,
Dear Senator,
Regards
.

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To maximise the impact of your letter, you should send it from your own email program.

    1. Click "Prepare my email message" below.
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    3. You will have the opportunity to edit the email and personalise it to give it more impact if you wish. Otherwise, just press "SEND" through your email program.

That’s it! With those simple steps, you can ensure your voice is heard in the call for valuable, meaningful change. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s call for kindness, now.

You’re ready to take action!

Ready to help us make important, meaningful change? Send your message now and add your voice to the call for kindness.

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Thank you !

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