Some 3,000 cattle stranded on boat off Turkish coast for three weeks
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Forty-eight animals on the Spiridon II livestock carrier are thought to have died after being stranded for three weeks off the coast of Turkey.
PHOTO: X/@ANIMALSAVETR
- Nearly 3,000 cattle from Uruguay are stranded off Turkey due to documentation issues found by veterinary inspectors upon arrival on Oct 21.
- The Animal Welfare Foundation reported 48 animal deaths and dwindling food. Residents complain about stench and flies from the vessel.
- Turkish authorities denied entry due to missing ear tags/chips and mismatched descriptions. The importers are challenging the decision in court.
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ISTANBUL - Nearly 3,000 cattle shipped from Uruguay have been stranded for three weeks off Turkey’s north-west coast after authorities blocked their entry over documentation irregularities, officials and animal welfare groups said on Nov 12.
The livestock carrier Spiridon II, which left Montevideo more than 50 days ago, was denied entry upon arrival at Bandirma port on the southern shores of the Sea of Marmara on Oct 21, Turkey’s communications directorate said.
The boat was briefly allowed to dock on Nov 9 to load feed and bedding before anchoring offshore again, the UK-based Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) said.
It said the ship’s owner said 48 of the animals had died and food supplies on board were running out.
“Footage shows white bags on the upper deck, likely containing dead bodies,” AWF said.
Residents in Bandirma have complained about the stench and spoken of swarms of flies around the vessel, local Turkish media reported.
The port had received an application to import 2,901 breeding cattle for 15 companies on Oct 21, the communications directorate said.
But when the cattle arrived, veterinary inspectors found some of them lacked ear tags or electronic identity chips, while another 469 did not match the description listed on the paperwork.
“Due to these irregularities, entry of the shipment into the country was not permitted,” it said on X.
The decision was communicated to customs on Oct 23 and was being challenged by the importers in court, it said.
The ship has remained offshore throughout the process.
AWF urged the authorities to intervene.
“After weeks without a solution, we urgently appeal to have the animals examined by a veterinarian and to put sick or weakened animals out of their misery,” it said.
“The remaining animals must be brought ashore without further delay.”
AWF said the animals were destined for breeders in Turkey and the Middle East, notably Israel. AFP
