Happy Holidays and Thanks from WSPA and Levy the Lamb

We thought the best way we could wrap up this year on our blog was by saying a special thanks to YOU, our amazing supporters. Whether you're a commenter on our blog, a follower on Twitter, one of the 83,000 who have joined the Humane Chain, someone who's written letters to your MPs, or a dedicated volunteer, we could not have done it without you!

We owe an especially big "thank you" to a group of volunteers who came in this past Saturday to assist with the very glamorous task of Humane Chain data entry. Our volunteers Mary, Christine, Adisty, Vania, and Jim were an awesome team, typing away all day.

And you've also been showing your support in creative ways! One of our supporters, Chantelle Stieghan sent us a poem that she wrote, which was inspired by the images and footage from the Humane Chain website. You can click here to read her moving piece (in a pdf) titled "No more grass for me."

And lastly, before we take a break on the blog for the holiday season we wanted to share a live export story that has a happy ending.

If you live in Western Australia, you may be accustomed to seeing trucks transporting sheep along the highways. Earlier this year, a pregnant female sheep fell from one of these trucks. Though she managed to give birth on the side of the road, she unfortunately did not live long after that.

Luckily a farmer passing by stopped and rescued the newborn lamb, who was being pecked away at by crows. A few weeks later, Levy the lamb made his way to a new home in WA, where he's been looked after since. His new guardian, Rachael, told us:

"The first night I had to sleep in the spare bed with him and he woke me up every hour!! I bottle fed him every 2-3 hours and took him everywhere with me. He's now 6 months old, follows me around like a shadow, walks on a lead, sleeps inside, plays with the dogs, chases the cats and head butts them, loves scratches and weetbix, chews on absolutely everything and loves life with his family of 4 cats, 3 dogs, 1 pig, 1 bird, 6 chooks, 5 horses and 7 sheep!"

Not only is Levy now a healthy, happy sheep, but he's also got a very important job as the "spokes-sheep" for Stop Live Exports. Levy lends his adorable face to SLE's posters and ads, and also makes appearances at protests, market stalls, and community events in WA to help attract people to the cause.

We love hearing stories like this and we look forward to an exciting new year in which we'll be working towards happier endings for all of Australia's sheep.

Happy holidays to all from everyone here at WSPA!

Live Exports Blamed in Shark Attacks

There are many reasons to oppose the Live Export trade, from the cruelty endured by sheep, to the Australian job losses it causes. But we never thought we'd be telling you that live exports have now been linked to shark attacks.


An unusually large number of shark attacks have been occurring on the shores of Egypt. Recently one tourist was killed and four divers were injured. While the government has not named an official cause, one theory that's been gaining support is that sharks are being attracted to the sheep carcasses that are thrown overboard during live export.

Hisham Gabr Ali, the chairman of Egypt's Chamber of Diving and Water Sports, says:

"I know for a fact that sheep have been thrown into the water by a boat. I don't know the quantities, I don't know the numbers and I know it was more than once ... because divers saw it."

An export manager from Meat and Livestock Australia admitted that dead sheep are thrown overboard, but that maritime law forbids this in the waterways near Sharm El-Sheikh, where the shark attacks occurred.

However, Heather Neil of the RSPCA noted in an ABC Rural Report article:

"I think what it really points out ... is that 35,000 sheep are dying on the journey from Australia to the Middle East and those bodies need to be disposed of."

Source

Photo by richard ling shared on Flickr under a Creative Commons license.

730 Report Exposes National Disgrace Of Live Sheep Export

As many of WSPA’s Humane Chain blog readers would know, last night’s 7.30 report aired shocking footage of Australian sheep exported to the Middle East for the annual Eid festival.

The footage, taken by welfare group Animals Australia, catalogues a string of inhumane treatment ranging from sheep being dragged across gravel, animals being hauled around by their skin, completely inhumane and prolonged slaughter and sheep packed three deep in stifling temperatures in closed car boots.

The footage captures some of the worst examples of abuse we’ve seen so far, and seriously questions the live export industry and Australian government claims that standards are improving.

Some industry figures have tried to deflect criticism by claiming it’s an anomaly due to the high volume of animals slaughtered during the festival. Having completed a fact finding trip to the Middle East in October we can sadly confirm this treatment is a regular year round occurrence – certainly not restricted to Eid alone.

A recent Galaxy opinion poll commissioned by the World Society for the Protection of Animals revealed that an overwhelming 79% of Australians believe live sheep exports are cruel, while 86% agree that the Government should phase out live sheep exports if there’s an alternative that saves Australian jobs.

WSPA continues to call on the Government and Minister for Agriculture Senator Joe Ludwig to respect the Australian community’s concerns and reconsider its stance on live sheep export. Surely the Government needs to reassess its support of an industry where around 40,000 sheep die en route to the Middle East every year, and the survivors are subjected to such horrific treatment on arrival.

You can take action by:

1) Thanking the ABC for airing last night's exposé on the live animal export industry: www.abc.net.au/7.30/letters.htm

2) Take action to help end live exports via www.humanechain.org

7.30 Report to air live animal export investigation tonight

Tonight’s 7.30 Report on the ABC will air Animals Australia’s ground-breaking Middle East investigation, exposing ongoing cruelty experienced by hundreds of thousands of Australian animals during Eid Al Adha just last month.

The full story will reveal the suffering endured by Australian animals half a world away to the television screens of Australians who can demand better from their government.

Tune in to hear a first-hand account from Animals Australia's investigator Lyn White, as well as HRH Princess Alia of Jordan who is one of the many caring Muslims struggling to raise animal welfare standards in the region whilst countries like Australia continue to implicitly reinforce cruel practices by supplying animals to known abuses.

This report follows the launch of WSPA’s Middle East investigation earlier this year, alongside Sydney Mayor Clover Moore. WSPA’s investigation documented cruelty outside of the Eid period, demonstrating that Australian animal suffering in the region is sadly not isolated to the festival period alone.

With a new Australian federal minister responsible for animal welfare, the timely exposure of this cruel trade to the Australian people is paramount. Please consider sending your thoughts on the story to The Hon. Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture to GPO Box 2477, Brisbane QLD 4001. Alternatively you can contact your local representative via www.humanechain.org

It’s so very important that this new investigation is seen by as many Australians as possible, please encourage friends, colleagues and family to watch 7.30 Report tonight.