Exported again: Animals condemned to another month at sea.

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. 

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.

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.

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?