Massive Achievements in Animal Welfare: A Landmark Victory for the Ban on Live Exports
Exciting news from the UK and Australia! I am thrilled to share groundbreaking news concerning live animal exports from both the UK and Australia. The UK Parliament has just passed a monumental ban on live exports, sparing millions of animals unnecessary suffering.
Since the 1990s, I have been deeply involved in investigating the live export trade, traveling thousands of miles to document the distress, suffering, and deaths animals endure during these horrendously long journeys. This trade is not only archaic but utterly unnecessary.
Over two decades ago, an Animal Planet documentary highlighted my efforts, bringing much-needed attention to this critical issue. You can watch it here.
Following closely on the heels of this victory, the Australian Parliament announced a ban on live sheep exports, set to take effect in 2028. Tracks Investigations has spent many years documenting this horrific trade from Australia to the Middle East, and it’s heartening to see our hard work contribute to such a significant change.
This news is a testament to the crucial role that investigative work plays in bringing the plight of animals to the forefront of public and political consciousness. I extend my deepest gratitude to CIWF and Animals Australia, for whom we conducted these investigations, for their tireless and persistent lobbying efforts to effect change.
The path to securing these images was not only arduous but perilous. My team and I have faced unimaginable dangers: we’ve been kidnapped by incensed hauliers, shot at outside slaughterhouse gates, and physically assaulted by irate truck drivers. Police officers have dragged us from our car at gunpoint, forcing us to the ground in terrifying encounters. Operating on no sleep and fueled by sheer determination and copious amounts of energy drinks, we pursued transport trucks for days. The physical toll we endured paled in comparison to the suffering of the animals we documented—every hardship we faced reminded us of the critical importance of our mission.
Seeing the legislative changes that have now been enacted, all the suffering and danger we've endured in bringing these images to the public eye have undoubtedly been worth it. This victory is not just ours but belongs to every animal that has suffered needlessly. Together, we've helped forge a path toward a kinder, more compassionate world.
Together, we are making history for animal welfare. Let’s continue to fight for a kinder, more compassionate world.