Animal Transport Horror: 40 Pigs Thrown Into the Sea

Posted on by Dan H

Dramatic video footage of live-animal transport reveals that pigs suffered and died in the summer heat during a four-day ferry journey. PETA Germany received the footage, which was shot by an eyewitness on the vessel between 24 and 28 July, showing trucks loaded with pigs being transported by ferry from Bulgaria to Georgia. So far, it’s not known where the pigs were raised.

According to the eyewitness, the pigs weren’t given any water or food while on board, and because the trucks were in the blazing sun, the animals were subjected to extreme temperatures. Weak pigs were left to suffer, receiving no veterinary care. The eyewitness saw 40 ill or dead pigs being taken from the trucks and thrown into the sea.

PETA Germany is currently unable to report the companies responsible for these animals’ suffering to authorities, because it hasn’t received enough information to do so. However, the group has written to the Bulgarian and Georgian authorities to inform them of the incident and to call for an investigation.

What You Can Do

Every week, more than a billion live animals worldwide are transported over long distances, often through blazing heat or freezing cold and without food, water, or veterinary care – as if they were nothing more than freight. Their gruelling journeys typically end at an abattoir, where they face a terrifying death. Others end up in pet shop displays or laboratory cages.

The best way to help animals is never to buy them or their body parts for any reason, but we can also help reduce their suffering by taking action now to call for an end to cruel live-animal transport.

For decades, Australians have been calling for an end to live-animal exports from our shores.

Every year, Australia exports millions of live animals to countries in the Middle East, subjecting them to a gruelling trip across the Indian Ocean, sometimes in searing heat, that may take weeks. Many die from dehydration, starvation, or disease – others are trampled to death in the crush of bodies.

Please speak out against this cruelty by asking the government to put a stop to the live export trade.