NSPCA investigating ship exuding ‘horrendous smell’, carrying about 19k cattle at Cape Town harbour
The NSPCA said it was alerted to a vessel called the Al Kuwait that was travelling from Brazil to the Cape Town harbour to load food for the animals onboard.
The NSPCA said it was alerted to a vessel called the Al Kuwait carrying about 19,000 cattle that was travelling from Brazil to the Cape Town harbour to load food for animals onboard on 19 Feberuay 2024. Picture: Supplied/NSPCA
CAPE TOWN - Members of the National Council of SPCAs are investigating a ship at Cape Town harbour with thousands of cattle onboard.
A foul smell emanating from the vessel hung over large parts of the Cape Town CBD and surrounding areas on Monday morning.
The NSPCAs Grace de Lange said they were alerted to a vessel called the Al Kuwait that was travelling from Brazil to the Cape Town harbour to load food for the animals onboard.
The NSPCA said it was alerted to a vessel called the Al Kuwait carrying about 19,000 cattle that was travelling from Brazil to the Cape Town harbour to load food for animals onboard on 19 Feberuay 2024. Picture: Supplied/NSPCA
According to De Lange, it's believed the livestock carrier is destined for Iraq.
"The ship arrived late last night and the NSPCA in conjunction with the Cape Town SPCA conducted an inspection. There are currently about 19,000 cattle onboard. We've had to euthanise about five of the cattle due to injuries or as per our vet suggestions to relieve them from any suffering."
De Lange stressed the NSPCA's stance on the transportation of live animals by sea.
"The smell is absolutely horrendous so you can just imagine what those animals must be going through, and they still have to endure a long time at sea to their final destination. We are totally opposed to the transport of animals by sea or live animals. We are saying if you want to transport meat, we are one hundred per cent fine with that if they get slaughtered in SA, and the meat is transported but for us, these animals do not have to endure going through all of this."
The NSPCA said it was alerted to a vessel called the Al Kuwait carrying about 19,000 cattle that was travelling from Brazil to the Cape Town harbour to load food for animals onboard on 19 Feberuay 2024. Picture: Supplied/NSPCA