In a team effort, WACPAW (West African Centre for the Protection of Animal Welfare) and Eyes on Animals have constructed a substantial concrete ramp at the Olive pig abattoir in Gbawe. During our visit in December 2022, we witnessed pigs being forcefully pushed off trucks lacking loading ramps, causing them to fall more than a meter onto the concrete pavement. This led to widespread panic among the pigs, with many landing on their noses, backs, and legs – some sustained severe injuries and were left immobile.
To address this issue, we built a large, sturdy concrete ramp right at the abattoir’s entrance. This design ensures the ramp’s durability and promises a significant reduction in stress and injuries. Additionally, an earlier creation of a smaller, mobile ramp will be used for trucks with two levels, preventing pigs from having to jump on top of one another. The slaughterhouse manager and workers were very happy with the new ramp.
