The decision to re-export thousands of animals on the ill-fated MV Bahijah—subjecting them to the longest deliberate and authorised dwell sheep export journey in recent reminiscence—is a darkish day within the historical past of this merciless and unfixable commerce. in response to Australia’s peak animal welfare organisation
RSPCA Australia chief science officer Dr Suzie Fowler stated that the choice, which has been confirmed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, implies that these animals will now be pressured to endure one other gruelling sea journey by way of the Cape of Good Hope.
“This is on top of what they’ve already been through, with an aborted journey to the Middle East and back, not to mention several days sitting off the coast of Western Australia,” Dr Fowler stated.
“We know that dwell export poses cumulative and unacceptable welfare dangers to sheep—and this can be particularly the case for these sheep who’ve suffered a circuitous, and most of all, fully pointless, journey.
“In fact, this will be the longest planned and approved live export journey for sheep in recent memory.”
“With the Bahijah, Australians have seen the horrors of the dwell sheep export business in our personal yard—and so they’ve stated sufficient is sufficient.
“If ever there was proof that live sheep export is inherently chaotic, risky and unpredictable, this is it.”
Dr Fowler stated that this complete saga has proven that the business’s definition of ‘good’ or ‘acceptable’ animal welfare may be very totally different from what animal welfare science tells us.
“In what world is it acceptable to maintain animals standing in their very own waste for 30+ days?
“In what world is it acceptable to power them to endure movement illness, warmth stress and fixed noise and light-weight?
“And in what world is it acceptable to, just weeks later, make them do it all again?”
“This re-export software ought to by no means have been authorised. But extra importantly, this commerce shouldn’t be allowed to proceed any longer.
“It is time—past time—that the Federal Government laid out its plan for legislating an finish date to this unacceptable and pointless commerce.
“It can’t be fixed. It will never be fixed. The only acceptable outcome is to end it.”
