A foul stench engulfing the South African city of Cape Town is coming from a ship carrying cattle that is docked in the port, officials have said.
We are in hell, one resident wrote on social media.
Another posted: Cape Town absolutely reeks today. The ship is 8km away, and I can still smell it…
I hope this situation can be sorted out swiftly. Not just for the personal comfort of Cape Town residents but for the poor cattle being kept in these horrible conditions.
City authorities launched an investigation and inspected sewage facilities for leaks before the source of the smell was discovered: a ship docked in the harbour carrying 19,000 live cattle from Brazil to Iraq.
Zahid Badroodien, the official in the mayor’s office in charge of water and sanitation, said the ship is due to depart soon – likely to the relief of residents who had an unpleasant start to their working week.
The 190m-long vessel had halted in Cape Town to load feed for the cattle, according to the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA).
The animal welfare charity has initiated an investigation and expressed concerns about the conditions onboard. NSPCA’s Grace de Lange told reporters: We’ve had to euthanise about five of the cattle due to injuries. The smell is absolutely horrendous so you can just imagine what those animals must be going through, and they still have to endure a long time at sea to their final destination.
The NSPCA described the stench as an indicator of the harsh conditions the cattle endure on the ship, which has been at sea for over two weeks, accumulating faeces and ammonia.
This smell is indicative of the awful conditions the animals endure, having already spent two-and-a-half weeks on board, with a build-up of faeces and ammonia, the NSPCA stated.
The issue has sparked outrage among residents who have been subjected to the unpleasant odor wafting across the city. City officials and animal welfare organizations are working together to address the situation and ensure the well-being of both the residents and the cattle on board.
Despite the challenges faced by the cattle and residents of Cape Town, efforts are being made to rectify the situation and alleviate the distress caused by the foul smell emanating from the ship.
