Turkey | Border Kapikule | Animal transports | Day 3
Viele Rindertränken sind voller Gülle.
Ein Schlachtbulle aus Österreich liegt völlig erschöpft auf dem dreckigen Boden.
Ein junger Mastbulle ist sehr schwach. Die Fahrer verweigern unsere Hilfe.
Zwei Stunden später ist der junge Bulle tot.
Ein durstiges Kalb leckt verzweifelt an den Gitterstangen.
Tiertransporter parken in der prallen Sonne und warten auf die Zollpapiere.
Today our team counts 27 animal transporters leaving No Man's Land and entering Turkey. Sometimes we cannot check the animals on board as they do not stop for customs control in Kapikule but continue driving past for inspection elsewhere in the country.
We inspect 19 animal trucks parked along the road and on the parking lot near the border. The animals are desperate for water. Some are fighting for water in buckets drivers give them, while others try to use small metal drinking nipples that are designed for pigs and not suitable for cattle. The automatic cattle troughs are often turned off or full of faeces.
On board a Hungarian truck, we observe a very weak fattening calf lying on the floor. He is dehydrated and exhausted. We offer to call a veterinarian or help the calf ourselves, because we have two veterinarians in our team and have electrolytes with us. The drivers refuse any help and say they are going to unload the animals soon and will then give him some medication. Sadly, when they finally unload two hours later, the calf is unable to stand up and dies during the unloading process.
In the evening, two trucks arrive with slaughter bulls from Austria and Hungary in disgraceful conditions. There is almost no bedding left. The animals are covered in filth and appear completely exhausted. They are so crowded that many cannot lie down. Some bulls are so hungry they are eating the dirty bedding.
