Tackling live export
It has never been necessary to tackle this issue in the UK as the rules preventing the export of live horses for meat are already established.
Each week over 100 lorries crammed with horses arrive at the Italian border. Many have travelled almost 1,500 miles, often without water, food or rest, contrary to European Union law.
A large number will suffer serious injuries en route – some will collapse resulting in a few being trampled to death.
Certain countries in Europe, predominantly France, Belgium and Italy, consume horse meat. This results in a massive live transportation trade involving many European countries. Animal welfare groups, and the UK’s general public, have long opposed the live export trade.
It has never been necessary to tackle this issue in the UK as the rules preventing the export of live horses for meat are already established.
But no such rules are in place in other European countries. Horse traders scour Europe to find the cheapest animals and since the collapse of the Soviet Union, their attention has focused on the newly emerged trading opportunities with these countries.
Recently, Italian horse traders have centred their attention on the horses in Lithuania. This has resulted in horrendously long journeys for the horses as they’re forced to endure a crossing of at least six international borders. In 2000, Lithuania exported just under 11,000 horses for slaughter – around 500 lorry loads.
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Export of live horses investigation 1999
In 1999 we funded a major investigation into the export of live horses from Lithuania to Italy. The German organisation Animals’ Angels, which has been monitoring live exports throughout Europe for a number of years, gave expert guidance to the Lithuanian State Veterinary Service, Lithuanian Society for the Protection of Animals (LiSPA), Lithuanian television and Ben Noreikis (our full-time representative and co-ordinator in Lithuania) in their investigations.
Following the initial investigation, including hard-hitting video evidence, a series of campaigns were launched in October 1999, February 2000 and January 2001 to address the serious welfare issues.
Following the initial investigation, including hard-hitting video evidence, a series of campaigns were launched in October 1999, February 2000 and January 2001 to address the serious welfare issues.
- We exposed, on national Lithuanian television and in the press, the horrific reality of the live export of Lithuanian horses and the terrible cruelty endured by these animals, so everyone in Lithuania knew about this hidden trade.
- We funded an investigation into the live export of Lithuanian horses which exposed the terrible cruelty.
- Investigation results were presented to the authorities and backed up with photographs and video footage.
- Naturewatch supporters sent over 9,000 letters of complaint to the Italian Ambassador in London.
- We held a meeting with the Italian Embassy in London to discuss our concerns.
European livestock
Since 2000 we’ve campaigned alongside other animal welfare groups to improve welfare standards for farm animals during transport across Europe.
Our campaigns on the welfare of European Livestock have covered three main aims:
To see a total eight-hour journey time limit, rather than the 24-hours currently allowed by EU law.
To improve the conditions of animals in livestock markets.
To develop awareness of animal welfare issues in Eastern Europe.
“This is a historic moment for all those who care about animals. The call of one million citizens cannot be easily ignored by the EU institutions.”
Dan Jørgensen, Danish MEP
“This is a historic moment for all those who care about animals. The call of one million citizens cannot be easily ignored by the EU institutions.”
Christa Blanke, Animals’ Angels.
Fighting live exports in Australia
Seven million live animals are exported from Australia each year to the Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Mexico. Sheep, cows, pigs, goats, camels and deer all face weeks at sea.
Conditions on board are notoriously bad and totally inappropriate for live animals – some of the vessels are just converted car carriers and up to 140,000 animals may be transported in one vessel. The Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture has admitted that around 100,000 sheep die on these ships each year, but that’s very likely to be a conservative estimate.
Those that don’t die suffer horribly. Often, during the overland journey across Australia to their port of departure (up to four days in a truck), animals suffer broken limbs and other injuries, but despite rules to the contrary, they’re loaded onto the ships. During the voyage, they undergo week after week of pain and fear – all too frequently they start out in perfect health but reach their slaughter destination starving, thirsty, injured and blind.
Our UK supporters got involved by helping to raise public awareness of this cruel trade, collecting petition signatures, distributing leaflets, postcards and writing to the Australian High Commission in London to emphasise the damage to Australia’s reputation as a civilised country. We held a demonstration in London and we produced a template protest letter for supporters to use.
To mark the first unhappy anniversary of the Cormo Express leaving Fremantle with its cargo of 57,000 sheep (doomed to float around the waters of the Middle East for 80 days), simultaneous demonstrations were held in Perth and London. A Naturewatch delegation handed over a petition of some 57,000 signatures – one for each of the Cormo sheep – to the Deputy High Commissioner, Bill Tweddell. The petitions were presented in gift-wrapped boxes with a label bearing the words ‘Unhappy Birthday’.
The response
Mr Tweddell and his colleagues were courteous, but curiously ill-informed about their country’s live export trade. This was surprising, since Mr Tweddell had met with representatives of PACAT and Compassion in World Farming only the previous October to discuss the issues.
Moreover, we were told that over 10,000 letters of protest from Naturewatch supporters had been received at the High Commission, all of them forwarded to the Australian Government in Canberra. But we were promised that the petition signatures would be passed on, so the Australian Government can be in no doubt as to how its reputation is being damaged internationally by the atrocities inflicted on millions of Australian animals each year.
How you can help
There are lots of ways to help with our work, from making a donation through to holding fundraising events or even getting involved as a volunteer. Below, you can explore the different ways to help us continue raising standards for animals.
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UK wildlife is under threat, yet crimes against it are treated as minor offences. Urgent legal reform is needed.
Join us in telling your local MP why a change in law is vital to protect our wildlife.
Join us in asking the UK Government to finally end animal testing for all everyday household products.
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Take part in a way that works for you, whether volunteering, fundraising or donating items, and help create a kinder future for animals.
