In the port of Tanger-Med in Morocco, an unbelievable tragedy is currently unfolding: Two animal transports with 'slaughter' bulls have been held there for over 20 days. The animals from Portugal are suffering unimaginably. They are ankle-deep in their own excrement. They have respiratory problems and their eyes are severely inflamed. One of the bulls, we call him Luiz, has already died. His body lies in the middle of the animals - trampled by the others and barely recognizable.
Animals' Angels is on the ground in Morocco to help. But in a country without any animal welfare regulations, this is extremely difficult. The bulls are at least provided with hay and water by the drivers and the buyer. But this does not change the fact that their condition worsens with each passing day. The animals are exhausted and at the end of their tether. However, it remains unclear why they are not unloaded and quarantined until the bureaucratic issues have been resolved.
There were no irregularities with regard to health requirements and accompanying documents. The export of the animals from the EU was only authorized after the Moroccan authorities had given their approval. We find out that the animals were eventually detained due to changes in import duties. Their fate now depends on the adoption of new customs regulations - animal welfare plays no role here.
The Moroccan authorities' obvious indifference to this cruelty to animals shows once again: animal transports to Morocco must not take place! Animals' Angels has sent an urgent letter to numerous veterinary offices and authorities in Germany and the EU demanding that all animal transports to Morocco be stopped immediately. Only recently, the OVG Lüneburg allowed the export of 105 German heifers to Morocco following an urgent application by an exporter. The court's reasoning: there were no concrete indications that the animals were being treated in a manner contrary to animal welfare in Morocco.
How concrete do these indications have to be in order to finally put an end to these tragedies and the obvious suffering of the animals?
