Live Animal Export

Sadly Australia is the biggest exporter of live animals for slaughter. In 2009 Australia exported over 900,000 cattle predominantly to Indonesia, and 3.5 million sheep mainly to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries within the Middle East.

During the journey animals can experience stress, heat exhaustion and extreme temperatures. Many don’t eat, are injured or suffer from disease. Despite efforts made by both the Australian Government and the live export industry to regulate the export process, tens of thousands of animals continue to die every year while being exported.

Almost half of all deaths on board sheep vessels are due to starvation because some sheep are not able to identify the unfamiliar pellets they’re given as food.

For every animal that dies, many more suffer further cruelty

Those animals that survive the journey arrive on foreign soil where they are no longer under Australian protection. None of the countries to which Australia sends animals for slaughter have equivalent animal welfare protection laws. 

Video evidence collected over many years shows the most appalling handling and slaughter in the Middle East, including sheep being trussed and dragged by a limb, tied onto roof racks or placed in car boots in high temperatures. In addition, a live export industry report commissioned in 2010 documented cattle in Indonesia attempting to rise an average of 3.5 times once they had been forcibly tripped into the slaughter position and then forced to endure an average of four cuts to the throat before being properly cut. This report also documented instances of completely unnecessary and cruel eye gouging and tail twisting prior to slaughter. This poor treatment would be neither tolerated nor legal in Australia.

As long as live exports continue, animal suffering will continue. Take action

Ending live animal exports will not only help animals, it’s also better for our economy

According to an independent assessment (S G Heilbron, 2000) live animal export costs Australia $1.5 billion in lost GDP, $270 million in lost household income and around 10,500 lost jobs.

There is a viable alternative. In instances where live export has been temporarily banned, for example in Egypt in 2006, a dramatic increase in chilled meat imports to that particular country has taken place.

Halal certified chilled meat products from Australia are accepted both in the Middle East and in Indonesia. There’s no excuse to continue the live animal export trade.

Australians want an end to live animal export

Almost 80% of Australians think live export is cruel and should end, according to a National Galaxy Poll released in October 2010. This is testament to the huge amount of public support for WSPA’s Humane Chain campaign, with over 85,000 Australians now linked together united against the trade.

Join the chain reaction that’s spreading across Australia and help bring an end to the intolerable cruelty of live animal export. Visit www.humanechain.org.au and contact your local Member of Parliament. For any questions or comments, please email humanechain@wspa.org.au.