Ruthless live animal trade and transportation from South Africa has unleashed an anger wave against government and exporters as painful trucking and shipping the herds of livestock animals is unchecked despite public furry over the simmering issue. Flare-up aroused after around 3500 head of cattle were herded and packed in worst cruel way in a ship to transport them to Mauritius from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The livestock is taken to southern port East London and cramped into cells on board the poorly-maintained ventilated carrier. The voyage will take up to 12 days on rough seas. People who are campaigning issue revealed that the process of loading and unloading besides translocation, animals turn ill and some often have to deprive of their limbs due to rough sea transportation. Some petition against the trade to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry were filed to forbid the callousness but all in vain. Campaigners claimed that South Africa had best slaughterhouses and slaughtering mechanism. These animals’ meat needed to be exported instead of their live shipment, they added “This is one of the pitiful ways of transporting and exporting animals,” National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) head Marcelle Meredith told The South Africa News. He said that their misery was unending as they are loaded and unloaded in inadequate facilities. We knocked the door of court but effort did not come to fruition. Cattle-breeder Bruce Page who is exporting the animals to the Indian Ocean Island admitted that there were some alternatives. “We may export meat instead live animals but Muslim communities in different countries want live animals so that they could slaughter animal to get Halaal meat,” he added. However, Page called it just a myth that animals suffered during their sea trips. “I have transported over 8000 animals through ships over the past three years and truth was that mortality rate stood at just 0.0005 per cent. South African law does not put embargo on the shipments of live animals, but exporters are asked to obtain a health certificate from the relevant departments. South Africa’s trade and export of lions, rhinoceros, giraffes, and antelope is done under prescribed rules and regulations. But, they are found in more comfort than that of animals shipping to be slaughtered in far away countries. The country manages to produce livestock for local consumption with live export of sheep, cattle, goats, and ostriches. As the battle between exporters and campaigners goes on, some Australian groups, like Animals Australia and Beauty Without Cruelty, have favoured South African lobbies pressing government to forbid the trade, exchanging legal aid and information.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:41:29 +0000
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