March 7, 2024

 

Livestock resume voyage from Australia to Israel after Red Sea threat

Around 14,500 livestock departed from Australia to Israel, marking their second attempt at the journey after their initial voyage was halted due to concerns of an attack by Houthi militants in the Red Sea, Free Malaysia Today reported.

 

The animals embarked from Fremantle port in Perth on January 5, 2024, but their voyage was interrupted halfway when their ship was redirected back home by the Australian government.

 

The diversion was a consequence of the disturbances caused by Houthi strikes supporting Hamas militants in Palestine, compelling ships to take longer and costlier routes around southern Africa.

 

The livestock endured weeks of uncertainty onboard the vessel and, since disembarking in mid-February, have been housed in holding facilities on land, in compliance with Australia's biosecurity regulations mandating quarantine.

 

While activists and some politicians decried the treatment of the animals as inhumane and called for an end to the live sheep trade, authorities and industry representatives asserted that the livestock were in satisfactory condition and health.

 

In mid-February, the agriculture ministry reported that four cattle and 64 sheep had perished aboard the Bahijah since its departure on January 5, but maintained that these figures fell below reportable mortality levels.

 

Over the weekend, the livestock were reloaded onto the same vessel, the MV Bahijah, and departed from Fremantle on Sunday, as confirmed by Geoff Pearson, head of livestock at farm group WAFarmers.

 

Pearson disclosed that approximately 14,000 sheep and 500 cattle were onboard, with the remaining cattle slated for export on other ships in the forthcoming weeks.

 

The agriculture ministry affirmed its approval of the shipment, stating that the exporter intended to transport the livestock to Israel without passing through the Red Sea.

 

According to industry experts, the journey from Australia around Africa to Israel typically spans about 33 days.

 

-      - Free Malaysia Today