Animals' Angels is on the export route to Morocco. We accompany three animal transports that are shipped by ferry from the French port of Marseille across the Mediterranean Sea to Tangier-Med in Morocco.‘Fattening’ calves from Spain and France are loaded on board the three trucks which in turn are parked on a so-called roll-on roll-off ferry during the Mediterranean Sea crossing.
Calves from Spain to Morocco via France? Why this detour via France? Well, the animals used to be exported to Morocco via the port of Algeciras in the south of Spain. However, following a decision by the Spanish Ministry, these transports from northern Spain are no longer permitted: Since 1 April 2024, animals may only be exported via the port of Algeciras if they have travelled less than eight hours and started in Spain. In itself, this is initially good news for the animals - but as everywhere, there are loopholes. For example, this new route via the port of Marseille, where the animals now have to cross the Mediterranean by ferry instead of the Strait of Gibraltar which would take about 2 hours.
The ferry transport from Marseille to Tangier-Med takes around 44.5 hours this time. On board, we observe that the young cattle are given water and food and the drivers endeavour to look after the animals as well as possible - and yet, as the journey progresses and the temperatures rise above 30°C, you can see the strain and exhaustion on the animals. They are packed too tightly together, with no room for them all to move or lie down - and that on such a long and arduous journey in the middle of summer!
After almost two days at sea, the ferry finally docks in the port of Tangier-Med in Morocco. Again, the temperatures are hot during the day. Sometimes the thermometer even reaches 38°C. In the port, the animals on board the trucks have to wait another four hours until all customs and import checks have been completed.
In the evening, they can finally continue the journey. At a stop at a parking, we can see the animals up close again. Tired eyes look at us through the bars; some calves have runny noses, and some are breathing heavily - no wonder given the heat and the cramped conditions on the trucks. Manolo looks visibly exhausted. We had already seen him on the ferry, repeatedly panting with his mouth open and his head stretched out - clear signs of heat stress, which he is suffering from again now.
By the time the animals arrive at their destination south of Casablanca, it is already after midnight. According to our observations, the animals were locked up on the trucks for at least 58 hours non-stop, and that's even legal! It is unbelievable, but according to EU law, the time on the ferry is not counted as transport time. This must finally be changed! An end must be put to these insanely long journeys!
