Published 05/03/2012

Details from the reports from Friday 2nd March have now been verified. The origin of the shipment was unknown but officials have stated that the ship's starting point was Brazil.

The shipment of live cattle exported from Brazil to Egypt is not an unusual route and can take about 18 days. Including the travel-time before being at sea and the disastrous delays now taking place, it is estimated that the cattle have been travelling for approximately four weeks.

It is believed on this occasion that three days into the journey, the ventilation and feeding system failed.

Compassion was informed that on arriving at Port Said, Egypt, 10 days ago, a veterinary committee inspected the vessel and found as many as 2750 cattle dead.

After being refused permission to dock at Port Said, the ship sailed through the Suez canal to the Red Sea. After being refused permission to dock at Djibouti, Sudan and Eritrea, the ship and its cargo of suffering cows is now stranded in the Red Sea.

Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming, said: "We are witnessing an animal welfare disaster unfolding and those that should be helping save the cattle from slow painful deaths are sitting on their hands."

Compassion is calling on the Egyptian and Brazilian authorities to fulfil their commitments as members of the World Organisation for Animal Health and resolve the appalling situation in the Red Sea.

Peter added: "We are doing everything we can to resolve the situation, which is another example of the extreme suffering caused by this inhumane trade. In the meantime the number of dead cattle is sure to rise and the health risk to the crew is likely to be significant as levels of ammonia build without proper ventilation."

Take Action

• Please take action by urging the Brazilian and Egyptian Authorities to urgently liaise with Red Sea ports to get this boat docked and ensure any surviving animals receive the essential treatment they so desperately need.