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06. August 2019

Germany | Federal Minister Julia Klöckner stops long-distant transports of unweaned calves to Spain

Thirsty calves desperately trying to drink water from pig drinkers that are not appropriate for them.

The German Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Julia Klöckner, asked the Bavarian State Minister for Enviromental and Consumer Protection Affairs, Thorsten Glauber, in a letter to stop long-distance transports of unweaned calves from Bavaria to Spain. 

Julia Klöckner strongly emphasises in her letter that there are no…

24. July 2019

Poland, Slovenia, Israel | Transport of calves from Lithuania

Our team and investigators from our partner organisation, Israel Against Live Shipments (IALS), gather evidence of severe suffering of animals during long-distance transport from Lithuania to Israel. The documentation covers two long weeks of transport.

Our team is in Poland to control the transport of calves. We want to verify the compliance of…

23. July 2019

Germany | Reinhardshain | Veterinarian stopps transport of hens

Copyright: Polizei Mittelhessen

On Tuesday evening is still 37°C when a veterinarian is called to check on a transport of chickens on the autobahn A5 in Germany. She experienced a lot, but the sight of the 4,800 layers is extremely depressing. The animals have already been transported in hot weather for one day without food or water by a dutch transport company. The hens are from…

04. July 2019

Turkey | Kapikule | Animal transport to Turkey: Day 3

Truck with bulls from Romania arriving at the Turkish side of the border.

Only one truck with animals crosses the Turkish border today. It is loaded with young bulls from Romania. They are unloaded at a nearby stable to be watered and fed for a few hours. The animals are very thirsty and immediately start fighting for access to the water trough.

In the late afternoon, our team crosses the border in order to check if…

03. July 2019

Turkey | Kapikule | Animal transport to Turkey: Day 2

No animal trucks cross the Turkish border today.

The weather forecast predicts temperatures of 39°C at the Turkish border for today. This is the first day since we started observing this border in 2010 that we do not see any animal trucks crossing the border. We are satisfied that finally our minimum demand that no animals are transported in hot weather is fulfilled, at least for today.

02. July 2019

Turkey | Kapikule | Animal transport to Turkey: Day 1

Exhausted sheep lying down.

Our team starts to inspect animal trucks from the EU entering Turkey at the border of Kapikule. Close to the border crossing, we see young bulls with Austrian ear tags in a private stable. For one day, they have been stuck inside the border and for another one at this stable due to problems with their documents. Six other trucks with Austrian…

29. June 2019

Poland | Bodzentyn | Monthly Report June: Cattle & Horse Markets

We observe an emaciated cow at the Lagow cattle market.

Whilst inspecting the market in Bodzentyn we notice two cows with overgrown hooves. Many animals are not sold and are going back to the farms because of the low price for bovines. The market gets empty before 8 AM. The situation is similar in Lagow. Here as well, the trade ends very early. It looks like animal markets in Poland might be about to…

21. May 2019

Germany | Alliance 90/The Greens meeting on animal exports to non-EU countries

We are reporting on the risks for animals during transport in non-EU countries.

The urgent need for action concerning the export of bovines to non-EU countries is discussed at an information event by the German party "Alliance 90/The Greens" under the leadership of Bernd Voß (Member of the Landtag Schleswig-Holstein). We report on the situation of certain non-EU export routes and inform about inspection reports published by…

29. April 2019

Poland | Bodzentyn, Lagow | Monthly Report April: Cattle & Horse Markets

We are writing down the ear tag number of an emaciated cow.

Whilst inspecting the cattle market in Lagow, our team notices a cow with overgrown hooves. We are taking photos and writing down the ear tag number. In the meantime, the trader who bought the animal to the markets starts yelling at us. The Veterinary Inspector sees the whole situation and decides to thoroughly inspect the trader`s documents and…