Nearly 3,000 cows were trapped for weeks on the ship Spiridon II, which left Uruguay on September 20, 2025. The ship, rejected at the port of Bandirma in Turkey due to bureaucratic problems, was carrying more than 1,400 pregnant cows, many of which gave birth on board in extreme conditions. So far, 58 dead animals have been confirmed, while many newborn calves are missing. The situation is worsened by overcrowding, lack of food, water and veterinary care.
A real health emergency
Cows are forced to survive in unhealthy environments, including sewage, rotting carcasses and narrow spaces. Some drink the condensation from the pipes to try to quench their thirst. Overcrowding and uncontrolled births aggravate the risk of zoonotic diseases, while the ship represents a potential danger to public health and the marine ecosystem, as discharges and carcasses can contaminate the surrounding waters.
The block is due to a bureaucratic discrepancy between the identification plates and the loading documents. Uruguay, as an exporting country, maintains responsibility for animal welfare according to the WOAH rules and EU Regulation 1/2005, while coastal states, such as Turkey, would have the right and duty to intervene according to the UNCLOS Convention. So far, no effective action has been taken, leaving thousands of animals suffering for over 60 days.
Environmental and climate impacts
In addition to animal suffering, transportation generates a significant environmental impact. The decomposition of bodies and sewage produce methane and ammonia, contributing to marine and air pollution. The livestock production chain is linked to deforestation, intensive fodder production and increasing global emissions, accentuating the climate crisis.
The appeals of animal rights organizations
European animal rights organizations are calling for immediate interventions: inspection of the ship, provision of food, water and veterinary assistance, partial disembarkation to reduce overcrowding and international coordination to prevent similar emergencies in the future. The Spiridon II affair highlights the need to end the transport of live animals by sea and to reform intensive farming, moving towards more sustainable and safe practices for animals, people and the environment.
Every day the Spiridon II remains at sea is a day of avoidable suffering. These are not abstract numbers: they are sentient beings, capable of pain and fear. Their plight reminds us that the global system of flesh privileges profit over life and that any institution that remains passive becomes complicit. Stopping this catastrophe means not only saving lives, but reaffirming the ethical value of respecting those who cannot defend themselves.
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