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Update: Stricken animals return to live export ship, bound for Israel
January 31, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
Update Saturday 2 March 2024:
In a move that has outraged animal welfare organisations, the WA government has approved the re-export of 15,000 ship who had previously been stuck onboard a live export ship.
Peak animal welfare group, the Australian Alliance for Animals says it is dismayed at the decision, calling the move a failure to put animal welfare first.
It is understood the livestock will now be forced to endure at least another 33 days at sea, by taking the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope due to the risk of Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea.
described the move as a failure to put animal welfare first after the sheep had already spent more than a month at sea and in heatwave conditions.
“The decision to re-load the sheep back onto the MV Bahijah and put them to sea is cruel and indefensible,” says Alliance spokesperson, Dr Jed Goodfellow.
“These animals have already suffered enough after being stranded for weeks on the vessel in hot and humid conditions, putting them at further risk of death and disease.
“This will be a black mark against the Department of Agriculture, which has previously claimed that animal welfare is at the heart of its decision-making. This decision shows that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced yesterday that it had approved a notice of intention to export a consignment of livestock to Israel on the MV Bahijah.
“The decision was made in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control Act 2020,” read a department statement.
“The exporter intends to transport the livestock to Israel without passing through the Red Sea.
“All consignments of livestock exported from Australia are subject to inspection by departmental veterinarians to ensure they are fit for export and meet all importing country requirements.
RSPCA express concern and disbelief at live export plans
“In what world is it acceptable to keep animals standing in their own waste for 30+ days?”
RSPCA Australia Chief Science Officer Dr Suzie Fowler said that the decision means that these animals will now be forced to endure another gruelling sea journey via the Cape of Good Hope.
“This is on top of what they’ve already been through, with an aborted journey to the Middle East and back, not to mention several days sitting off the coast of Western Australia,” said Dr Fowler.
“We know that live export poses cumulative and unacceptable welfare risks to sheep – and this will be especially the case for these sheep who have suffered a circuitous, and most of all, completely unnecessary, journey.
“In fact, this will be the longest planned and approved live export journey for sheep in recent memory.”
“With the Bahijah, Australians have seen the horrors of the live sheep export industry in our own backyard – and they’ve said enough is enough.”
Dr Fowler said that this whole saga has shown that the industry’s definition of ‘good’ or ‘acceptable’ animal welfare is very different from what animal welfare science tells us.
“In what world is it acceptable to keep animals standing in their own waste for 30+ days?
“And in what world is it acceptable to, just weeks later, make them do it all again?”
“This re-export application should never have been approved. But more importantly, this trade should not be allowed to continue any longer.
“It can’t be fixed. It will never be fixed. The only acceptable outcome is to end it.”
Read original article and updates below.
Tuesday 13 February 2024: After more than five weeks at sea, the process to unload all the animals stuck on a live export ship in Western Australia has begun.
The MV Bahijah is now at Fremantle Port where trucks are waiting to take the animals to feedlots. It’s could take days to remove all animals.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry says the animal will finally leave the ship from today. After leaving the ship, the animals will go to an “appropriate premises”.
“While the livestock currently aboard the vessel are high-quality Australian animals, they will remain under strict biosecurity control at appropriate premises while the exporter considers its options,” DAFF said in a statement.
“Disembarkation is a complex process.
“All parties involved, including the department, Western Australian government, exporter, transport companies and appropriate premises continue to work collaboratively to ensure the health and safety of the livestock and staff.”
The department says it will have veterinary officers and biosecurity officers to assist ensure biosecurity requirements are met.
“The department continues to receive daily updates from the veterinarian aboard the vessel and the livestock remain in good condition.
“As of this morning, since 5 January, total mortalities on the vessel currently stand at 4 cattle and 60 sheep, below reportable mortality levels.”
Trucks met the animals at the ports and have taken them to feedlots. It’s anticipated they’ll stay there for a few weeks for biosecurity measures.
It’s likely the export will submit another application to re-export the animals to the Middle East. If successful, it means the animals will be returned to the ship and will face another long journey.
More to come.
Ongoing MV Bahijah saga
Today’s update comes after the animals spent 5 1/2 weeks onboard the ship. The situation has angered animal welfare organisations and many Australians. Especially as the animals have been stuck inside the ship in heatwave-like temperatures recently.
The MV Bahijah, carrying more than 16,000 sheep and cattle, was effectively stranded off Perth’s coast after being directed to return to Australia on January 5.
The ship left Fremantle for Jordan but after two weeks at sea it was turned around due to security concerns in the Red Sea.
Animals finally set to leave live export ship
Thursday 8 February 2024: The animals onboard MJ Bahijah are expected to be taken off the live export ship in coming days. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced the update today. This follows the department rejecting the exporter’s Notice of Intention to re-export the animals to the Middle East.
“Following this decision (to refuse to application), the exporter is working to offload all livestock from the vessel,” says an online statement.
“The department is engaging actively with the exporter, as well as relevant Western Australia government agencies, in relation to the arrangements that will be needed to support this.
“Any offloading of livestock will be undertaken under strict biosecurity protocols and with regard to animal welfare.
“The department will continue to support the exporter as they consider options for the livestock once they have been unloaded.”
Monday 5 February 2024: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry says it rejects the exporter’s request to send the livestock back to the Middle East.
“The application submitted on 26 January 2024 for the re-export of livestock onboard the MV Bahijah to Israel has not been approved by my department,” department secretary Adam Fennessy said at a press conference in Canberra.
Fennessy added that the next steps for the livestock on the ship is a “commercial decision for the exporter”.
Live export update
Sunday 4 February 2024: The government confirms the unloading of several hundred cattle on Friday night. The cattle are in quarantine; their next destination is unknown.
In a further update today, the Department says the onboard vet assessment shows no welfare or health concerns with the remaining livestock.
MJ Bahijah livestock: concerns for the welfare of animals onboard the live export ship
Animal welfare organisations are urging the government to step in and help thousands of animals stuck on a live export ship.
The MV Bahijah, carrying more than 16,000 sheep and cattle, has remained offshore for more than a week.
The ship left Fremantle for Jordan in early January. But after already spending two weeks at sea, returned to Australia due to security concerns in the Red Sea.
There are serious concerns about the animals’ welfare due to the extensive time stuck on board and recent heatwave-like conditions.
RSPCA Australia is one of the animal welfare agencies calling on the government to intervene and ensure the welfare of the animals.
While the animals are out of public sight, reports say there’s many sick cattle and sheep onboard.
RSPCA calls for action to help animals on The MV Bahijah live export ship
With temperatures reaching 40 degrees, the RSPCA is calling for an independent veterinarian to check the welfare of the animals.
“This situation could not be more urgent now,” says RSPCA Australia Chief Science Officer Dr Suzanne Fowler.
“The lack of action, transparency and accountability from the exporter is completely unacceptable.”
“The clear question is, what is this exporter trying to hide?
“And for those of us who are familiar with this trade, we know exactly what they don’t want the public to see.
“Live export is extremely stressful for animals. After 26 days at sea, these Australian sheep and cattle will be facing a prolonged, heightened state of stress.
“(Which) makes them more vulnerable to illness and disease.”
Reports from the exporter’s onboard veterinarian suggest no significant health or welfare issues among the livestock.
Where to next?
Some industry representatives suggest re-exporting the animals via a lengthy 33-day voyage around the Horn of Africa. Animal welfare advocates like the RSPCA, however, argue for processing the animals in Australia.
“We are gravely concerned about the proposal to re-export these animals. They have unequivocally already suffered enough,”
“They have endured sustained heat and humidity. And weeks of living in their own waste, crowding, unfamiliar environment and volatile movement of the ship.
“To subject them to what could end up being a total of 60 plus days of this is inarguably unconscionable.
“The industry’s threat to re-export the animals is recklessly irresponsible, callous, and prioritises their profits over welfare.
“The lack of concern for the welfare of these animals, the poor contingency planning and the extraordinary avoidance of scrutiny and accountability show exactly why the live sheep trade needs to end as soon as possible.
Ongoing debate to end the live export trade
The RSPCA’s stance is that the live sheep trade exhibits a fundamental lack of concern for animal welfare.
“While our most immediate concerns are for these animals on board, this is sadly symptomatic of the disaster-plagued live sheep export trade overall and is one of the many reasons why we believe this volatile trade must end.
This incident reignites debates around the live export trade. Calls for its end are now growing louder amidst concerns over animal welfare and the industry’s sustainability.
The RSPCA welcomes the tabling of government response to a petition calling for an Australian live sheep export ban.
“A legislated end date for Australia’s live sheep export must pass in this term of Parliament.
“And for the majority of caring Australians, it can’t come soon enough,” she said.
Dr Fowler also called for a legislative end to Australia’s live sheep export. A sentiment she believes the majority of Australians share, especially in light of recent events.
⇒ Read our article on the overwhelming support for an Australian live sheep export ban
⇒ Head to RSPCA Australia’s website for stay up to date with animal welfare issues across Australia.
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