Animals‘ Angels trails a truck with young cattle being transported from Spain to Greece. The bulls have French ear tags meaning they were born in France, afterwards transported to Spain and are now again sent on a 2.700km journey. According to the drivers, the animals’ final destination is a fattening stable in Greece, ultimately facing slaughter somewhere along the line.
The transport from Spain to Greece will take several days including even a nine-hours ferry crossing from Italy to Greece. As the animals have clearly been transported for more than 29 hours, the EU animal transport regulation demands them to be rested for 24 hours. Hence, Animals’ Angels checks whether the animals are unloaded for at least 24 hours at an Italian control post. The drivers do comply with the regulation – which is most certainly an improvement – because until some time ago, the animals were not necessarily given that rest.
That, in spite of compliance with the law, long distance transports involve enormous stress and unnecessary suffering, becomes apparent during our following inspection of the truck on its way to Southern Italy: the young bulls are agitated and push each other around in the narrowness of the vehicle. They do not have room to move freely. Besides, for them to be transported means to be forced out of their familiar group, having to get along with new conspecifics in a very confined space. This situation yields turmoil and stress and often leads to debilitating fights among them
In addition to the unfamiliar surroundings, sounds and traffic, there is a biting smell of ammonia burning their eyes and noses. And, naturally, they suffer more and more from hunger and thirst the longer the journey takes. At the time of our inspection, the young cattle still face a 23-hours non-stop journey on board of the truck.
Animals’ Angels does not content itself with compliance, but will further continue to fight for banning long distance transports. The EU finally has to set an example, starting to implement what has been already admitted on paper: Animals are sentient beings. To account for their needs and rights has got to finally take precedence over economic interests.
