Stop Live Export South Africa (SLESA) has joined international animal-welfare organisations in calling for urgent intervention in the case of the livestock carrier MV Spiridon 2, currently anchored at Bandırma Port, Türkiye with 2,901 surviving cattle still trapped on board and at least 48 confirmed dead.
In a letter sent on 9 November 2025 to Türkiye’s Minister of Agriculture Hasan Keskin, SLESA appealed for the animals to be off-loaded immediately to prevent further suffering.
A voyage of suffering
The MV Spiridon 2 departed from Uruguay about 50 days ago and has been stranded off the Turkish coast for weeks. According to reports from the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), the animals have endured prolonged confinement in overcrowded pens with dwindling access to feed, bedding and fresh water.
Authorities are reportedly refusing to allow disembarkation because of ear-tag identification discrepancies. While the ship has been permitted to dock briefly to take on fodder and bedding, no animals – living or dead – have been allowed ashore.
Most of the cattle are believed to be pregnant Holstein heifers, now weakened, dehydrated and severely stressed after nearly two months at sea.
‘We respectfully appeal for your immediate intervention to enable the swift unloading of the surviving cattle in order to prevent further suffering and loss of life’
— from SLESA’s letter to Minister Keskin
Why this matters
Long-distance live export by sea inflicts immense suffering. Animals are confined in cramped, filthy conditions for weeks, often in extreme heat, standing in their own waste with limited access to clean water. The Spiridon 2 crisis is yet another reminder that this trade is inhumane, unsustainable and impossible to regulate adequately.
The delay in unloading not only prolongs suffering but also increases the risk of starvation, dehydration, disease and death. The ship’s reverse-osmosis system reportedly struggles to produce enough fresh water when close to shore, intensifying the animals’ distress.
SLESA stands for all animals
Although this voyage did not originate in South Africa, SLESA’s involvement underscores our commitment to defending all animals caught up in this cruel trade wherever they are in the world.
‘We fight for every animal affected by live export — whether they are loaded at East London Harbour, Fremantle or Montevideo. The Spiridon 2 tragedy shows why live export by sea must end globally.’
Our call to action
SLESA joins AWF and other global organisations in urging the Turkish authorities to:
- Allow immediate off-loading of animals with verified documentation to reduce overcrowding on board
- Provide urgent veterinary care, food and fresh water to all surviving animals
- Investigate the cause and accountability for this prolonged ordeal
- Take leadership in ending long-distance sea transport of live animals
How you can help
- Read the full letter: Download PDF
- Share this story: Use hashtags #StopLiveExport #Spiridon2 #AnimalWelfare on social media
- Raise your voice: Write to Minister Hasan Keskin keskin.hasan@tarimorman.gov.tr to ask for the immediate offloading of the cattle
- Support SLESA: Donate or volunteer to help us campaign for an end to this cruel trade
For further background, read:
- The Maritime Executive: Livestock Carrier Stranded off Turkish Coast as Activists Demand Action
- Weekend Argus: 2,900 Cattle Trapped off Turkish Coast for Weeks
- Animal Welfare Foundation: Thousands of Cattle Trapped at Sea – Ship Spiridon II Held off Turkish Coast
Read the letter
