Vienna, 20 November 2025 — Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is alarmed by the ongoing case of the livestock vessel Spiridon II, that was denied entry to Türkiye due to ear tag documentation issues. 

The vessel left Uruguay for Türkiye in mid-September, carrying over 2,000 cattle. After weeks of being stranded at sea awaiting a decision, the weakened animals may now be forced to return to Uruguay. According to the exporter, half of the carried animals were pregnant, raising alarms about the well-being of the cattle and calves born on deck. The exact number of animals that gave birth, lost a calf or died during the journey remains unknown. As this crisis continues to unfold, another livestock vessel carrying around 7,000 animals has departed from Uruguay to Türkiye, raising serious concerns that the same tragedy could repeat itself.

“Not only is it questionable why cattle were sent on such a long transatlantic ordeal in the first place but also why they could be forced to repeat this journey. The cattle finally deserve rest but instead they are reduced to lifeless cargo that is being shipped around. Their basic needs are completely denied. But sadly, the Spiridon II is no isolated case but part of the bigger issue of substandard transport conditions and insufficient documentation. And now, another vessel with even more animals has embarked on the same journey.

Live animal transport resembles a ‘black box’ of hidden animal suffering. We may know where animals depart, stop, and arrive, but not how they were treated along the way. The lack of transparency is unacceptable and allows animal welfare violations to happen with little repercussions. It needs strong transport laws to counter this and put an end to cruel transports via sea for good,” says Corinna Reinisch responsible for animals cruelly traded and transported at FOUR PAWS.