10. November 2025

Media draw attention to case of Uruguayan cattle aboard the "Spiridon II"

Spiridon II at dock.

[Translate to English:] Das französische Online-Medium "Brut" hat ein sehr aufwändiges Video über den Fall der "Spiridon II" gemacht. Interviewt wird auch unsere Projektleiterin Maria Boada Saña.

"The Animal Reader" interviews our project manager Maria Boada Saña about the case of the 3,000 cattle aboard the "Spiridon II".

Our spokesperson Tabea von Ow comments on the case in "Le Parisien."

The case of nearly 3,000 cattle from Uruguay, which have been held off the Turkish coast for almost three weeks, is making waves in the media. Thanks to a partner team on site, we were able to document the case, thereby increasing pressure on the authorities and informing the public. After turning back to Uruguay, the vessel disappeared for several days before reappearing in Libya, where it unloaded the surviving animals. It is now in Lebanon. 

For almost a month, the cargo ship Spiridon II lay off the Turkish coast with several thousand cattle on board. It had already been at sea for a month. The animals were confined in cramped conditions, with inadequate supplies, and were not allowed to be unloaded. The reason for this was discrepancies in the import documentation. After weeks without a solution, the ship set sail for Uruguay again on November 14. Off the coast of Tunisia, it suddenly disappeared from radar for several days. When it sent a signal again, it was suddenly in Libya. There, as we now know, all surviving animals were unloaded. The ship then sailed to Lebanon, where it remains to this day. 

Our research and photo documentation on site have attracted a lot of international attention: numerous media outlets are reporting on the dramatic situation of the animals and quoting our observations. In addition, several partner organizations have taken up our research and are now trying to reach the media with their own press releases. 

The media outlets that have reported on the case include:

  • The Animal Reader (English, including video-interview with our project manager Maria Boada Saña) 
  • Le Parisien (French/English, including video-interview with our press officer Tabea von Ow) 

TV: 

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