Live animal export – Animal Liberation South Australia

Live animal export – the dark side of Australian agriculture

Live animal export is the practice of transporting live animals over long distances, in order to sell to overseas markets which require live animals rather than chilled meat.

It has been a controversial issue for decades in Australia, where we export over three million live animals every year.

Cattle, sheep and goats are shipped around the world in distressing conditions which result in illness and death for a significant number, just to be slaughtered when they arrive.

They are often killed in countries without adequate protections against cruelty, where there are poor regulations and oversight.

The Australian Government has passed laws to end live sheep exports by sea by 1 May 2028. However, we must not take this for granted. We need to continue to monitor live sheep export, and to push for an end before 2028. We also need to keep pushing for an end to the live export of animals other than sheep.

(Image credit Dr Lynn Simpson Credit: Animals Australia)

The stress of the journeys

Long journeys and unfamiliar environments can cause animals to experience stress, which can lead to injury and death.

Animals are be crowded together in transport, which can increase the risk of injury and disease. They often don’t receive adequate food, water, or veterinary care during transport. The decks are not cleaned, so they live in thousands of litres of their own urine and faeces.

Animals sometimes give birth in these terrible conditions – and the poor babies come into a gruesome world. It’s one of the jobs of the crew to slit their throats …

Cooked alive on board …

When Australia exports into the northern summer, particularly to middle eastern countries, the intense heat makes the conditions are worse.

Animals are trapped in the heat, often with insufficient water. As they become more heat-stressed and collapse, they are buried in waste.

Many animals are literally cooked alive, and as they die, their decaying bodies add to the poisonous environment.

… And when they arrive

There’s scant relief at the end of the journey, for those that make it.

They’re penned on docks in the heat and sun, before being claimed by their buyers.

They’ll then have their throats cut while fully conscious and ‘bleed out’.

To find out more, check these websites:

Animals Australia: Live Export Ships Exposed

Voiceless: Live Export

RSPCA: Why is the RSPCA opposed to the live export trade?

Live animal export – the dark side of Australian agriculture

The stress of the journeys

Cooked alive on board …

… And when they arrive

To find out more, check these websites:

Report animal cruelty: 1300477722

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Contact us by email: Animal.Lib.SA@gmail.com