Live export disasters

Over the past 30 years more than 150 million animals have left Australian shores for slaughter in the Middle East, 2.5 million of these animals died during the journey.

Each year many shipments exceed the ‘reportable’ death rate of 2% for sheep and 1% for cattle on long haul shipment, some are highlighted below.

Al Messilah 2006
The Al-Messilar carried a total of 320 cattle and 71 309 sheep to the Middle East. Many of these animals died along the way due to failure to eat and heat stress.

Death toll: 6 cattle and 1,683 sheep

Buffalo Express 2006
An AQIS investigation was launched when 11 cattle died from injuries sustained from slippery decks and heat stress from inadequate space during export from fremantle to South Korea.

Death toll: 11 cattle

December 2004 - Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock introduced – Despite breaches of these standards no exporter has lost its license to export, nor been fined, since the introduction of these standards.

January 2004 - Report of the Keniry Inquiry released

MV Cormo Express 2003
57 000 sheep spent almost 3 months stranded at sea after being rejected by a Saudi Arabian importer. When an alternative buyer could not be found, the Australian Government intervened purchased the sheep, and donated the sheep to Eritrea.

Death toll: almost 6,000

MV Cormo Express 2002
Over one thousand sheep died during the sea journey to the Middle East and during discharge from the vessel.

Death toll: 1,064 sheep

Corriedale Express 2002
The journey of the Corriedale Express from Australia to the Middle East caused the death of over 6, 000 sheep. These deaths were recorded during the sea journey and discharge from the ship.

Death toll: 6,119 sheep

Al Shuwaikh 2002
Close to 6, 000 sheep on board the Al Shuwaikh died during the sea voyage from Australia to the Middle East or during discharge. The Al Shuwaikh was permitted to load more sheep and undertake another journey to the Middle East before any reports were completed. A further 2,304 sheep died.

Death toll: 5,800 sheep on first journey, 2,304 sheep on second journey

MV Becrux 2002
On its maiden voyage and boasting the highest standards of animal welfare, the MV Becrux carried 1,995 cattle and 60,000 sheep to Saudi Arabia. Many of these animals perished after the vessel met extreme temperatures and humidity in the Arabian Gulf. The remaining animals were rejected by Saudi Arabia and had to remain on board until another buyer was found to accept them.

Death toll: 880 cattle and 1,400 sheep

Norvantes 2002
The vessel, carrying 1 169 cattle, hit bad weather en route to Jakarta.

Death toll: 99

Temburong 1999
More than 800 cattle suffocate when power loss causes ventilation failure on the ship during the voyage from Darwin to Irian Yaya.

Death toll: 829

Kalymnian Express 1999
Over 300 cattle died of injuries, or were destroyed later due to their injuries, when the ship met a cyclone off the north west coast of Western Australia.

Death toll: 300

Charolais Express 1998
50% of the cattle carried on the Charolais Express either suffocated during transport or were too ill to land at their destination and were slaughtered at sea.

Death toll: 570

Anomis 1998
The vessel carrying over 2 400 goats and cattle arrived in Malaysia but could not unload for over two weeks due to a financial dispute between the exporter, shipper and importer.

Death toll: 283 goats and 154 cattle

Uniceb 1996
67 000 sheep were left to die on board the Uniceb after it caught fire and sunk in the Indian Ocean northeast of the Seychelles. 

Death toll: 67,000

Guernsey Express 1996
Over 1500 cattle drowned when the Guernsey Express sank on its way to Osaka Japan.

Death toll: 1,592