A livestock vessel, the Al Kuwait, which was accused of causing a noxious odor enveloping Cape Town, has departed for Iraq, according to confirmation from an animal welfare organization.
The ship arrived in Cape Town’s harbor from Brazil on Sunday to load feed for its cargo of 19,000 cows, prompting residents to raise complaints about a “nauseating” stench emanating from it.
The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) conducted an assessment of the cattle on board, revealing “abhorrent” conditions characterized by an “extreme build-up of faeces and urine.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, the NSPCA declared that the cows had endured over two weeks on the ship, with many forced to rest in pools of their own excrement.
The organization uncovered “diseased and injured” cattle during inspections between Sunday and Tuesday, resulting in the euthanasia of eight due to injuries, while others were found dead on board.
The NSPCA strongly condemned the incident, labeling it a harsh reminder that the live export of animals by sea is a cruel and outdated practice causing unnecessary suffering to sentient beings. The organization reiterated its call for a complete ban on live cattle transport by sea.
Residents of Cape Town, such as Lerato Bashing, expressed their distress, describing the odor from the Al Kuwait on Monday as the “worst stench” ever encountered.
She said the stench was so bad it felt “stuck in the back of my throat like a bad aftertaste”.
Another said the “overwhelming” odour of the ship “smelled as bad as one you’d imagine and I was put off breathing”.
