Instead of traveling 9,000 kilometers over land and sea: 164 Danish cattle are flown to Kazakhstan.

In November 2025, young Danish heifers were to be transported from Czechia to Kazakhstan on a journey of around 9,000 kilometers – across several countries, by road and sea. We prepared to document one of the longest routes we had ever researched. But the mission took an unexpected turn.

In November, we received information about several transports of Danish heifers that had already been exported from Czechia to Kazakhstan in October. Exports of breeding cattle from European countries to distant countries such as Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan have been common practice for years. Until now, transport has mostly been via Russia. 

What was new, however, was the apparently planned alternative route: due to possible restrictions or an embargo, Russia was to be bypassed. An informant told us about a route covering around 9,000 kilometers by land and sea: from Czechia via Austria, Hungary, and Romania, continuing with a three-day crossing of the Black Sea from Bulgaria, then by truck through Georgia and Azerbaijan, followed by another ferry crossing across the Caspian Sea. From there, it would have been another 3,500 kilometers across Kazakhstan to Pavlodar in the northeast of the country.

It was clear to us that such an extreme route would mean enormous risk and considerable suffering for the animals. Together with our partner organization Animals' Angels, we decided to document the announced transport in its entirety.

Preparation under pressure

Organizing such an operation within a few days was challenging. Our team members needed international driver's licenses, visas for certain countries, experience with extremely long journeys, and the ability to cope with severe sleep deprivation. Together with Animals' Angels, we put together six teams within four days to cover the countries along the route.

The Czech team kicked things off: they were to give the starting signal as soon as the transporters set off. Since neither the date nor the time of departure were known, and only a possible departure point south of Pilsen and the transport companies involved had been determined, a period of waiting began. In sub-zero temperatures, the team waited in their vehicle for 48 hours – without spotting a single truck.

It was only by chance that they discovered the trucks they were looking for on the grounds of a stable in a neighboring village. This made it clear where the transport would begin.

Sudden change of course

After another night of surveillance, the team observed the loading of 165 Danish heifers the following afternoon. They immediately informed the other teams, including the one in Bulgaria, which was preparing for the arrival of the trucks at the port. 

Shortly after the last two animal transporters had left the premises, we set off in pursuit in the nighttime snowstorm. But instead of heading southeast toward Austria as expected, the trucks suddenly turned in the opposite direction—northwest.

At first, we feared we were following the wrong vehicles. However, as the other trucks were nowhere to be found, we stayed with the transports. What followed was a 750-kilometer drive to Belgium. Instead of Kazakhstan, the trucks headed for Liège Airport. From there, as we later learned, the animals were flown to Kazakhstan on a seven-hour flight.

What had happened? According to our information, animals that had been transported by land and sea in October had arrived in Kazakhstan in very poor condition. Given the enormous distance, this is not surprising. Apparently, the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture responded by banning the import of cattle by land. Since then, imports have only been permitted by air. 

Mandatory rest period not observed

Although we fundamentally oppose the export of live animals, we were relieved in this case that the heifers were loaded onto an airplane. This spared them the extremely long and stressful journey by road and across two seas.

Nevertheless, there are still significant points of criticism: the animals were transported without the mandatory 24-hour rest period. By the time they were transferred to the plane, they had already been traveling for at least 34 hours, and by the time they arrived in Kazakhstan, they had been traveling for over 41 hours. Such a long journey without the mandatory 24-hour rest period is illegal. We have therefore filed complaints with the relevant licensing and control authorities in Czechia and Belgium.

We cannot say with certainty why the animals were transported from Denmark via Czechia in the first place. It is quite possible that the animals were originally supposed to be transported to Kazakhstan by truck as well. This is because the Kazakh government's directive was apparently brand new. However, it is also possible that the transporters wanted to circumvent stricter licensing requirements for such long transports in Denmark.