Sheep at sea without a compass

2003-10-08 13:09

Sydney - Australia's "ship of death" carrying more than 50 000 unwanted sheep was to begin its final voyage from a Kuwaiti port on Wednesday despite lacking a destination, a spokesperson for the agriculture ministry said.

A fire onboard the Dutch-owned MV Cormo Express on Sunday extended the ship's restocking in Kuwait to five days, making it more crucial for the vessel to move quickly into cooler waters to prevent any more deaths among the livestock that have been crammed into its hold for eight weeks. More than five thousand sheep have died on the journey.

An increasingly desperate Australia is continuing negotiations with about 25 countries, chasing a solution to the saga that has aroused public fury and cost the federal coffers A$4.5 million dollars (about R12m) for the repurchase of the livestock.

Saudi Arabia was the original buyer but rejected the shipment on the grounds that too many of the sheep were infected with the disease scabby mouth, which produces cold-sore like blisters around the lips of the animals.

An independent veterinarian has since declared the sheep disease-free and fit for human consumption but such assurances have proved little solace to would-be buyers.

Even war-torn Iraq, which was offered the shipment for free, refused.

Afghanistan, offered the same terms as Iraq, is understood to be interested in taking the sheep, but a plan to move the stock through Iran is proving tough to get past authorities.

Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said the government will try to find a buyer for the sheep or bring them home. A risk analysis of returning them to Australia has not yet been finished.

The government is also considering slaughtering the sheep at either the Cocos or Christmas islands but docking facilities there may be inadequate.

A final government decision should be made by week's end.

- AFP