Cattle Ship “Spiridon โฃII” Turns Back to Montevideo Amid Mounting Animal Welfare Concerns
MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – After weeks of international outcry over โhorrific conditions โonboard, the cargo ship Spiridon II has reversed course and is returning to โฃMontevideo, Uruguay, withโ itsโ cargo of โapproximately โข2,900 cattle.The decision follows โa report by Sky news detailing widespread โฃsuffering and death among โthe animals, prompting renewed โpressure on authorities to end the prolonged sea voyage.
the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) brought the plight of the cattle to public attention, reporting at least 48โค bovine deaths and the births โฃof roughly โค140 calves duringโค the voyage. Approximately 90 of those calves are unaccounted for, presumed โto โคhave perishedโ within โคthe shipS confines. The incident underscores growing concerns about the ethics and viability of long-distance live animal transport,โ a practise critics sayโ inflicts โunacceptable cruelty.
The Spiridon II was initially permitted to take onโ supplies in mid-November but was not allowed to offloadโฃ theโฃ animals. Now,โค theโค ship faces a multi-week journey โคback across the Atlantic,โค prolonging โthe ordeal for the remaining cattle.
“The fate โขof thes roughly 2,900 cattle exemplifies the systemicโข issues within the live export trade,” โstatedโข Boada Saรฑa of AWF. The institution is advocating for an immediate cessation of maritimeโข animal shipments and increased protections for โขanimalsโ within the industry.โ
Media reportsโข indicate a potential solution is being explored: the possible resale of the cattle to โUkraine. However, the futureโฃ ofโ the animalsโค remains uncertain as they continue their arduous journey.

