CALLING ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: If you can offer legal, financial or journalistic assistance please get in touch with the Animal Welfare Foundation.
A livestock ship carrying nearly 3,000 cattle from Uruguay has been stranded off the Turkish coast for more than two weeks after authorities refused permission to unload the animals due to irregularities in ear-tag documentation.
The Spiridon II, anchored off the port of Bandırma since 22 October, has reported at least 48 animal deaths, according to the ship’s owner. Animal welfare groups say remaining cattle are at risk as feed, water, and bedding supplies run critically low.
In a joint appeal, the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), Animal Advocacy and Food Transition, Animals International, and Australian veterinarian Dr. Lynn Simpson called on Turkish authorities to authorise the immediate unloading of the surviving animals.
“After such a long voyage, these cattle are exhausted, dehydrated and in urgent need of care. Every additional day at sea means further suffering,” said Dr. Maria Boada Saña, a veterinarian with AWF.
Dr. Simpson, who has worked as a shipboard veterinarian on more than 50 live-export voyages, warned that the situation could become “catastrophic” if the delay continues. “It is my experience that provisions of fodder, bedding and fresh water are likely to be low or non-existent at this point with an unexpectedly extended voyage,” she said. “My suspicion is that water supplies will be very low or questionable in quality if made at anchor.”
The organisations urged Turkish officials to prioritise animal welfare over administrative disputes and to allow the cattle to be brought ashore without further delay.
The Spiridon II operates between South America and the Middle East and, according to AWF, is no longer authorised to load live animals in European ports.
Animal Save Movement Türkiye said it is assembling a team to document conditions on the vessel.
Photos of the Spiridon II and archive footage from previous loadings in Cartagena (ES), Tarragona (ES) and Raša (CS) and more info are available upon request. A reel with short clips of what is available can be found here: https://we.tl/t-H8hK4YzbPf.
If you can offer legal, financial or journalistic assistance please get in touch with the Animal Welfare Foundation.
