How old is the global live export fleet? How many vessels were purpose-built to carry animals? And why are animal welfare organisations calling for urgent international reform?
This infographic, produced by Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), Tierschutzbund Zürich (TSB) and Robin des Bois, answers those questions at a glance. It reveals that the world’s 159 livestock carriers have an average age of 40 years, with 84% converted from cargo ships and just 16% purpose-built to transport animals.
Read more
- The full report: 2026 Global Livestock Fleet Report
- Built for cargo, carrying lives: Inside the investigation exposing the world’s live export fleet
- The world’s live export fleet has a problem. This report proves it
What you can do
Read the report. Share it. Write to your local representative or the Department of Agriculture asking where South Africa stands on live export reform.
Support the organisations, like Stop Live Export SA, pushing for a shift to chilled and frozen meat exports instead of live animals – a change that removes the welfare risk at sea entirely, rather than trying to manage it. Sign our petitions, sign up for our newsletter and join our protests. Make your voice matter!
Join the movement to stay informed
- Sign the Petition to ban live export by sea
- Subscribe to the Stop Live Export SA newsletter
- Facebook: Stop Live Export SA
- Instagram: @stoplxsa
- Website: stopliveexport.co.za
