Victory! New Zealand Government Announces Plans To Ban Live Animal Exports

Animal activists around the world are breathing a sigh of relief after the New Zealand Government announced plans yesterday that they will be phasing out the exportation of live animals by sea within the next two years.

“At the heart of our decision is upholding New Zealand’s reputation for high standards of animal welfare. We must stay ahead of the curve in a world where animal welfare is under increasing scrutiny,” said Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, in a statement.

“A world-leading live export ban means thousands of animals will no longer suffer at sea and overseas! We’re pleased to see that our Government has listened to the tens of thousands of Kiwis who have spoken out about this issue,” SAFE For Animals, who has been working tirelessly to ban live export in New Zealand, posted on Facebook.

Long-distance transportation is known to be highly stressful for animals and it exposes them to risk of injury and disease. On board, the animals often face horrifying conditions where thousands are confined to small areas. The heat stress, unnatural diet, and rough seas all have a negative impact on animals, resulting in many dying before arriving at their destination.

In November 2019, WAN reported on the tragic event where a vessel with 14,000 sheep capsized on its way from Romania to Saudi Arabia, leaving the captive animals to die on the ship. FOUR PAWS, and its Romanian partner organization ARCA, were able to rescue 254 animals, of which only 180 survived.

Gulf Livestock 1 was another tragic event where a live animal carrier sank 100 miles west of Amami Ōshima Island in southwest Japan on September 2, 2020, due to Typhoon Maysak. Sadly, thousands of dairy cows and 41 crew members lost their lives that day.

It’s avoidable events like these that make it even more clear why live exportation should be banned worldwide. We applaud the New Zealand Government for taking this important step forward for animal welfare.

You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg