Dear friends and donors,
Our inspection team has just
come back from Turkey, where we checked on cattle transports at the
Bulgarian border. We came back upset, disappointed and
angry. Not a lot has changed compared to five years ago. We did
accomplish a few things, but still everyday dozens of cattle transports
are waiting for hours and sometimes even days, in the burning sun,
to be allowed into Turkey.
It
is extremely hot (35-40°C) at the border, no shade is to be found, and
only one tiny water hose to water over a thousand
thirsty animals. The water systems on board of the trucks often do not
work properly, are filthy or are turned off completely. Almost all the
animals are overcrowded and the legal resting and travelling
time-limits for the animals are systematically being disrespected.
Our team instructed the drivers to water and feed the animals, to clean the water troughs and to turn on the ventilators.
We
trailed a number of livestock trucks until they reached their final
destination in Turkey. One truck had a dead pregnant cow from Germany
aboard, another an injured bull and another truck was extremely
overcrowded and filthy and did not have access doors. Access doors are
vital to be able to water and feed the animals.
We
thoroughly documented all infringements and abuses. Together with
inspection teams from AWF/TSB we have been seriously brainstorming and
are now preparing big steps to take
against this trade. This time we will not settle for promises; we want
to see concrete changes once and for all. The animals have waited long
enough. Soon we will give you an update on the situation.
We promise you we will do
everything in our power to stop animals suffering at the
Turkish-Bulgarian border. Please, keep on supporting our work. Many
people are making a lot of money on this live-animal trade route,
stopping the way it is set up, is not easy. We need your help more than
ever!
