Ship with 3 thousand cows spends 2 months adrift due to health veto

Strong odor, flies and carcasses are reported on deck. Witnesses report bags with bovine bodies and possible leakage of fluids, according to a report published by the British newspaper The Sun. Animal welfare organizations report at least 58 deaths and more than a hundred births during the crossing, with some of the calves in an unknown situation.

Animals are confined in overcrowded holds of a 52-year-old ship. The vessel was converted to transport livestock in 2011 and would not be equipped for such a long trip. The Animal Welfare Foundation, an international organization based in Germany, reports around 140 births on board, a number that reinforces the presence of pregnant cows in the shipment.

Experts say that the lack of water, food and clean bedding worsens the animals’ suffering. Veterinarian Maria Boada Saña described to The Sun that “each delay means massive suffering”, due to the exhaustion of the journey and precarious hygienic conditions. Australian Lynn Simpson says it is likely that “feed, bedding and fresh water are at their limit or have already run out.”

Why Turkey blocked landing

Failures in the health documentation and identification of the animals led to the refusal. According to local authorities, the earrings did not match part of the records presented by the crew. Turkey authorized the ship to dock only for quick refueling and then ordered the ship’s immediate return to its country of origin.

Organizations claim that the case reveals structural flaws in the live animal export system. For the Animal Welfare Foundation, the situation with Spiridon 2º is “exemplary” of recurring problems in long sea transports of livestock. The entity states that similar episodes will continue to occur until the export model is reviewed.