Jordan: Australian Sheep Found Suffering in New Live-Export Investigation

A PETA team travelled to Jordan to continue investigating the treatment of animals who are live-exported from Australia. The treatment of these animals, mainly sheep – who are shipped thousands of miles before they are kicked in the face, beaten, prodded and dragged off trucks by their ears and legs and into abattoirs, where their throats are slit while they are still conscious – is not only inhumane but also illegal, according to Australian humane slaughter laws.

At the Sahab animal markets outside Amman, Jordan, Australian sheep were found to be suffering from respiratory problems, blindness, severe skin conditions and wool loss. Sheep who are exported often suffer from inanition (failure to eat) because of the trauma of the journey. A veterinarian PETA brought to the markets to provide treatment to the afflicted animals confirmed that they were suffering from mineral deficiencies and severe stress – no great surprise after the terrible voyage these sheep endured half-way around the world! This is just one tiny market with a few hundred sheep; we can’t even begin to imagine the overall suffering of the almost 900,000 sheep Australia sent to Jordan last year.

Media reports state that the Australian government intends to conduct an investigation of animals’ conditions at these facilities, but to date, absolutely no progress has been made towards this goal. Please write to the following officials and urge them to immediately investigate the conditions for Australian sheep and to take a stand against any live export of animals from Australia to the Middle East:

His Excellency Trevor Peacock
Ambassador of Australia
amman.austremb@dfat.gov.au

The Honourable Tony Burke
Minister of Agriculture
Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au 

The Honorable Simon Crean
Minister of Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
S.Crean.MP@aph.gov.au

Watch video footage of sheep abuse in the live-export industry.

Find out more ways to help save sheep.

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