FOUR PAWS' Romanian partner, the animal welfare organisation ARCA, is currently on-site in Constanta to help to rescue the 14,000 sheep that are trapped in a capsized ship that was on its way from Romania to Saudi Arabia.
The team has been able to enter the ship and to rescue several sheep from a slow death. Although the situation is extremely difficult our partners continue their efforts to rescue as many animals as possible.
Every year more than three million live animals are transported from the EU to third countries.
No matter how strict the rules may be and how tragic this accident is, mass deaths like this are becoming more common.
A Spokesperson for Four Paws MJ Lourens says this sad incident shows that European countries need to stop exporting live animals. These long-distance transports are not only cruel but also entail major risks for the animals.
FOUR PAWS called on the European Commission to investigate this case and to advocate for an outright ban of long-distance live animal exports.
In South Africa the National Council of SPCA's has opened a criminal case against the Eastern Cape's Agriculture, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform department.
This follows after they approved a shipment of at least sixty thousand sheep from the East London harbour to the Middle East in October.
Picture: Facebook
