Cape Town Residents Disturbed by Odors as Livestock Carrier Docks in the City
Cape Town, South Africa residents were greeted with a foul smell on February 19 as a livestock carrier ship, the Al Kuwait, docked in the city’s port. The ship, transporting approximately 19,000 cattle, some of which were reportedly dead, arrived after an eight-day journey from Brazil. The vessel made an emergency stop at Cape Town Harbour to replenish fuel, water, food, and medication supplies for the crew and the animals.
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Dr. Zahid Badroodien, acknowledged reports of a sewage-like smell blanketing parts of the city, particularly in Woodstock, Observatory, Greenpoint, and the Central Business District (CBD).
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and Cape of Good Hope SPCA teams boarded the ship to assess the welfare of the livestock. On Monday, the NSPCA released a statement expressing concern about the noticeable stench emanating from the ship, attributing it to the animals enduring terrible conditions during their 2½ weeks on board, resulting in a buildup of feces and ammonia.
The ship is scheduled to depart the port at 9:00 p.m. on Monday to resume its journey to its final destination in Iran. The incident has raised public awareness about the conditions of livestock transportation and the potential environmental and welfare implications associated with such voyages.
