Nearly 200 sheep have a new lease on life after surviving a disaster at sea, and now get to live out their lives in peace at farm animal sanctuaries.
Last November, the Queen Hind cargo ship capsized near the Romanian coast while carrying around 14,000 sheep. All of the ship’s crew members survived, but thousands of sheep lost their lives due to drowning, injuries, and exhaustion.
The ship sinking merely expedited the grim fate of thousands of its passengers as they headed toward Saudi Arabian slaughterhouses. Fortunately, 180 of these gentle creatures withstood the tragic event long enough to be rescued.
The rescuers, also members of animal welfare groups, lobbied for the sheeps’ liberation from the meat trade. Granting their request, Four Paws and their Romanian partner ARCA are working to find sanctuaries to provide homes for the surviving animals.
“We are happy that the Romanian authorities placed the sheep in our care and will continue cooperating with them closely,” said Four Paws Head of the Disaster Relief Unit Jackson Zee. “Shortly after their arrival, our team on-site began to examine them and determine their future care. So far, they are mostly in good condition. Now, they can rest and recover from all the suffering they’ve had to endure recently.”
The sheep are safe at a farm near Bucharest, receiving veterinary treatment. They will remain at the farm until permanent living situations are secured, which shouldn’t be difficult considering numerous individuals and rescues have already come forward to offer new homes for the rescued animals.
For the 180 sheep that overcame the odds, the story ends happily ever after, but for the thousands who died, this tragedy is a powerful reminder that animals are not safe during long-distance transport.
“Our association is shocked by the disaster,” said president of Acebop Mary Pana. “If we cannot protect livestock during long-distance transports, we should outright ban them.”
The easiest way to avoid contributing to such cruelty is to leave animals off your plate and choose plant-based foods instead.
Humans who abuse animals, particularly to the point of injuries or health conditions leading to death should automatically be required to undergo complete examinations by at least two licensed psychiatrists. Animal abusers statistically have been found to be more likely to abuse humans to the same degree as they abuse animals, as they are psychopaths who are unsafe in general communities. Psychopaths are known to be extremely accomplished at lying to others, hence often go undetected in the general population. Severe abuse of animals is just cause to imprison them or to place them in locked treatment (containment) facilities or isolated communities indefinitely.
Cruelty needs to STOP.
A great ending to this horrible story.
It’s a story with a happy ending for 200 sheep, but so many died, so it’s sad too. Of course the crew didn’t give a damn, they were busy saving their own butts.
The poor sheep have been born and been through hell. Help them live a natural life now. This exporting of live animals is a bloody disgusting cruel business and must be stopped !!!!!!!!!
The poor sheep have been born and been through hell. Help them live a natural life now. This exporting of live animals is a bloody disgusting cruel business and must be stopped !!!!!!!!!
Thousands of animals are tortured with this cruel cargo shipping no food or water. Terrible hot weather!!!
These should be BANNED anyway!!!
Horrible and Disgusting
I think the drowned sheep had a better fate than the sheep who normally reach Saudi Arabia still living.
Please report one time what happens to sheep in that country. .
Poor animals everywhere.
Let’s save animals
This is really good news after such a catastrophe.
I would like to suggest that perhaps the public be asked to sponsor each sheep as I’m sure many would do so.
You should ban these horrible transports anyway. PLease do not allow these poor animals to be transported this way as a lot of them die on the trip and they have a horrible fate that awaits them once they get to the docks. Please ban live transport of any live animals anywhere.
Thanking GOD for this tragedy turned little miracle for the 180 who get to continue their lives in peace, as all living creatures
deserve! Thankful for those who are protecting them and giving them care and love. Time to change these wicked , greedy
ways of transporting the poor frigtened creatures…who met a horrific death, either way. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!
people should love sheep they are companions that like to eat to as much as people love lam chops.
These sheep have a happy ending but for all animals who are shipped, things are horrible no matter whether there is a ship accident and they drown or the ship arrives and they are slaughtered. These shipments of live animals need to stop. Introduce plant-based foods to all countries and stop ALL slaughter of animals. And governments in every country need to mandate limiting human population as well – 8 billion humans and expanding (most from poor countries) are destroying the world from overharvesting of food ro habitat destruction, to climate alteration.
Four Paws, what an amazing rescue they are!