23. June 2016

Turkey | Border Kapikule | Animal transports | Day 1

[Translate to English:] Durstige Bullen lecken an Wänden und Gitterstangen.

[Translate to English:] Ein Schlachtbulle aus Ungarn hat den langen Transport nicht überlebt.

[Translate to English:] Ein durstiger Bulle trinkt aus Verzweiflung Gülle.

Today a team of inspectors from TSB|AWF and our partner organisation, Eyes on Animals, from Holland arrives in Istanbul and drives to Kapikule at the Bulgarian/Turkish border. During one week we are going to inspect animal transporters bringing in animals from the EU to Turkey. While driving north on the highway, we observe 22 animal trucks passing us in the other direction, all coming from the border and heading deeper into Turkey towards fattening farms, dairy farms and slaughterhouses.

After arriving at the border, we find six trucks parked on the Turkish side waiting for their customs documents. A Polish truck with slaughter bulls from Hungary has a dead animal on board. The carcass is bloated and already smelling of decomposition. Another Polish truck loaded with Hungarian slaughter bulls is in a very filthy state. The thirsty bulls are licking the walls and metal bars of the trailer and some even drink the liquid formed in their dirty bedding, literally their own urine and faeces.