Livestock on pariah ship must be destroyed, say vets

Spanish vets have deemed the cattle aboard the livestock ship, the Karim Allah, to be in such poor condition that they must be destroyed, reports the Guardian. The cows have been kept in conditions that animal rights groups describe as “hellish”.

Two livestock ships recently came to public attention after it was revealed that they had been denied port entry for over two months because of a suspected outbreak of the bovine disease, bluetongue. The Lebanese-registered Karim Allah was allowed to drop anchor off Cartagena on Thursday, another the El Beik, is currently moored off the Turkish Cypriot port of Famagusta.

The vets’ report found that the animals aboard the Karijm Allah are unfit for transport and have suffered during their long sea voyage. It said many were unwell and should not be allowed to enter the re-enter the EU. It concluded by saying that the most humane course of action would be euthanasia.

However, the report did not mention bluetongue. Miquel Masramon, a lawyer representing the shipowner, Talia Shipping Line, said: “It is not even mentioned, which is very surprising. My impression is that they will definitely go ahead with the slaughter and destruction of the animals and it’ll be difficult for us to prevent it.”

The ship originally left Cartagena to deliver the cattle to Turkey, but authorities blocked the shipment and have suspended live animal imports from Spain, citing fears over bluetongue. The refusal to allow entry meant that other countries followed suit and the ship became an outcast, denied port entry and even access to animal feed.