For the first time, undercover film footage has exposed the brutal reality of animal cruelty aboard live export ships traveling from Australia to the Middle East. On each voyage, thousands of sheep suffer from starvation, poor ventilation, suffocation, illness and heat stress. Many of them are literally cooked to death in the summer heat. Their suffering is finally captured in damning footage released by Animals Australia.
The ethics of shipping animals across an ocean to be sold and slaughtered for meat are already dubious. However, the situation is particularly dire in the case of Australia’s live export industry, where a livestock mortality rate of up to 2% is legally permissible. Dozens to thousands of animals perish on every journey, forced into atrocious conditions under which they receive neither protection from the elements nor basic care. Despite the extreme number of deaths that occur on these ships, Australian regulators have failed to penalize live exporters for past instances.
On board these ships, sheep are treated as “cargo” rather than respected as living, breathing creatures. The severity of this neglect leaves the animals malnourished; they are vulnerable to illness, disease, and exposure to heat exhaustion. Within these poorly ventilated conditions, the sheep don’t even have space to lie down and rest away from their own waste. The alarming footage shows a pile of carcasses which are thrown carelessly overboard and disposed of as thoughtlessly as they were treated when alive.
The footage, filmed by trainee navigator Faisal Ullah and released through Animals Australia, exposes disgraceful living conditions and heartbreaking animal suffering. The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) specifically ban the transport of lambs and pregnant ewes during the warmer months, but Ullah’s film footage clearly shows new-born lambs on the ships. The legislature also provides for access for fresh air, food and water. However, in terms of animal occupancy, the perilously cramped conditions are completely legal under Australian law.
Ullah’s footage covers five voyages, including the now-notorious Emanuel Exports consignment on the Awassi Express, where 2,400 sheep – or 3.79% of the 63,804 on board – died of heat exposure. That mortality rate is nearly double the amount to mandate a federal investigation in Australia, which has temporarily halted the Awassi Express from further travel.
Dr Sue Foster, a former live expert veterinarian and spokeswoman for the Vets Against Live Export (VALE) has speculated that the standards of animal welfare are not only outdated but are unconcerned with reducing suffering for the animals.
After conducting a routine investigation into the conditions on board the ships, the department of VALE discovered that heat exposure was the main cause of death. Foster explained that heat stress is “unavoidable” on voyages to the Middle East in the summer under current regulations. “If we look at the footage … that ship is stocked according to Australian law. That is how every ship goes out of Fremantle.”
Despite feeling “shocked… to the core” after viewing the harrowing film footage taken on the Awassi, Agricultural minister David Littleproud will still allow the ship to continue sailing, provided they meet higher animal welfare standards.
Emanuel Exports will not leave port until it reduces its stock density by over 15%, improves access to food and water, increases ventilation and allows an observer on board to provide regular reports and up to date photos.
“So, the line in the sand has to be drawn now… and I’m committed to making sure we do that and put those sheep, if [they set sail] on Monday morning, in the safest possible hands,” said Littleproud.
After the Animals Australia footage aired on 60 Minutes, Emanuel Exports director Nicholas Daws announced that the company will reduce its loading numbers from 65,000 to 57,000 sheep, reducing livestock on board by 17.5%.
Despite admitting to the very “clear breaches of standards” in this case, the Australian Live Exporters Council has defended the industry’s overall conduct.
The awful truth of the live exports is that these animals are literally being cooked to death in the heat and struggling every day in the squalor of their living conditions. For the first time, these terrifying secrets of live export ships have been shared with the world and it is our job to speak out to save the lives of millions of innocent animals. To help shut down this immeasurable and unrelenting cruelty to animals, please visit Animals Australia and sign the petition now.
GO VEGAN! — GO VEGAN! — GO VEGAN!
BAN THIS HORRIFIC, IMMORAL, DEPRAVED INDUSTRY — SHAME ON ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN LIVE EXPORT OF ANIMALS in any capacity — TO TURN A BLIND EYE to the unconscionable cruelty inflicted on these innocent, vulnerable animals is beyond the pale — HOW DARE YOU! — STOP! STOP! STOP! — YOU HAVE NO RIGHT — WHO! — WHO? — WHO PROTECTS THE ANIMALS!
Stop this totally please. How cruel ! Love you sheep. Go vegan !
Terrible what is happening and needs to be stopped.
This is horrendous!! Some measures have to be taken to change this. It is inhumane. That would not be done to a human, so should not be done to any animal.
I hope the people doing this mal bien in hell, so they will know how it feels.
so sad how horrible animals are treated. This shows how sick and heartless people can be. It does not take time to be compassionate or kind to these innocent animals. Have a soul!
Who gives humans the right to treat animals in such a barbaric way.
Sometimes we just need to think of animals as if they were humans. Of course in many ways they are not however being literally cooked alive is just brutal and a horrible way for any animal to die. Although they are eventually going to die anyway, you still need to stop and think if the way you are doing things affecting these sheep badly?
Animals suffer, just like humans do.
If you decide to eat the flesh of animals, you must still take their “well-being” into consideration. You take their life to enjoy your meals and eat what you want, but you must avoid all the suffering that goes with your choice of life.
The 5 or 10 mn that your meal lasts depends on hours if not days or months of painful life.
An animal doesn’t speak the way humans do, but they nevertheless express distress.
This way of transporting living animals should have another rules, because do not forget they need space, air, water, during those long voyage !
There should be on board a Veterinary to verify these conditions.
“If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.” — Albert Einstein
Mir ging es auch so, ich dachte immer Australien sei ein friedliches, schönes Land. Es scheint, dass Tiere in Australien sehr leiden, da Menschen auf der ganzen Welt uns darauf aufmerksam machen. Wenn das eine gängige Praxis in Australien ist, werde ich keine Reise nach Australien machen, ob wohl das immer ein grosser Traum von mir war. Man muss diese Machenschaften STOPPEN und zwar sofort.
I always had this perception that Australia was a peaceful beautiful country. I even attempted to relocate to Australia. But my views have totally reversed. It appears that animals in Australia suffer a great deal as people around the world are making us very aware. If that is a common accepted practise in Australia, in NO way will you EVER NEVER see me there…the only thing you get from me or my family is assisting in making attempts to STOP this !
These types of things happen to other animals as well. Why is it allowed?
Why? Why transport these sheep if they are going to die? This is inhumane. Murder.
Just STOP this atrocity. What kind of monsters have the power to commit this crime against the innocent? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Please stop inhumane treatment of all animals!!!
I wanted to visit Australia, now I think I’ll pass. I mistakenly thought Australia was a civilized country. How can anyone treat animals like this? They feel the same pain a human does, they have feelings and emotions. Maybe if we started treating animals the way they should be treated – with love, compassion and respect, the human race would be kinder to each other. So discouraging.
How can a awesom3 people and nation do this allow this cruelty to these animals unspeakable must stop now!!
DO SOMETHING TO END THIS HORROR TO ANIMALS. IN FACT, END THE HORRORS TO ANIMALS THE WORLD OVER, NOW. When did people in this world become so horrible. How has this happened that animals are treated less than garbage? WHO decided this is how things ought to be done? SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.
Totally inhuman and down right evil!
Nothing alive should leave this world in such a gruesome death.
Please please stop it !!!
Where is the petition for the sheeps ?
If I’m not mistaken, it’s called financial greed…..Not acceptable, as the reason the numbers have reduced is ONLY because they have been found out!! Money, Money, Money = Profit, Profit, Profit Financially. Inhumane choices, far from the majority of Human choice!!!!!
Animals have feelings and rights too! Please help!
Stop it if you can this can’t be done
This is totally unexceptable and needs to stop now!!!
no one should suffer like this animals feel like us al the emotions and it is barbarian to do something like this
this is not who we are we humans and we act like this
so please be human and stop this torture because it is not necessary
This situation is not only inhumane, but tolerating it os corrupt and immoral.
Despite admitting to the very “clear breaches of standards” in this case, the Australian Live Exporters Council has defended the industry’s overall conduct.
The awful truth of the live exports is that these animals are literally being cooked to death in the heat and struggling every day in the squalor of their living conditions.
This IS absolutely unacceptable,and certainly unnecessary. What sort of evil species are we humans . We care for NOTHING but our selves. I’m am ashamed to be part of the human race. This unnecessary treatment of Innocent animals , WILL I hope come back on us. It HAS to be STOPPED. And ad soon as possible. How many more animals have to go through sheer HELL at the hands of human beings?? Heartbreaking.????????????
Horrific.
ita so disturbing to see it… i feel so bad for them… how can anyone do it to other LIVING BEING… remember they are not a non linving commodity… it must be stopped…
Very sad…Poor sheep. I can’t believe this cruelty exists in this day and age, it’s disgusting and barbaric. There should be zero tolerance for animal cruelty..Humans really need to be held accountable for the horrific treatment of animals..
We humans are devils.We say are prayers but we don,t want to see inside our hearts. what cruel beings we are.Shame on those people who earns their living with cruelty and that money which is full of blood feed to their children.DEVILS.
This is disgusting.
Most of us Australians are trying to stop live export and process them here in Australia. But the Minister of Live Exports Industry has no idea of those action’s on the Wasbi Cattle Export Ship.
So if the rest of the world get’s behind us and STOP LIVE EXPORTS then we can make a difference in the rest of cruelty to any animal.
Please help us as we’ve helped your law’s. Thank you
You need grammatrical education .