Bahijah's Troubling Journey: A Saga of Live Animal Export and Ethical Concerns

Bahijah has recently become synonymous with one of the darkest chapters in Australian live export history, culminating in its arrival at Haifa on April 6, 2024, after an agonizing 34-day journey. This vessel was carrying sheep and cattle who had already endured an extensive and troubling ordeal that played out alongside the escalating tensions in the Red Sea region. Originally setting sail from Fremantle on January 5, 2024, the livestock faced an unexpected return to Australia after being ordered back from the Red Sea due to the threat of Houthi attacks. The ship languished off the coast of Western Australia for days before the animals were finally unloaded on February 14, 2024, after a staggering 90-day journey marked by significant animal welfare concerns.

Following their disembarkation, these 16,000 sheep and cattle were placed in quarantine at a feedlot in Western Australia, where they would remain for several weeks. This past experience contributed to a high mortality rate, with a total of 81 animals lost—64 sheep and four cattle dying on board, while others succumbed after returning to land. The lack of adequate welfare measures and transparency raised alarm bells for animal rights advocates like the RSPCA, igniting public outcry regarding the ethics of live animal export.

In March 2024, just two weeks after the livestock were offloaded, Australia's Department of Agriculture gave the green light for the same animals to be re-exported to Israel aboard the Bahijah. However, this time, the journey would avoid the perilous Red Sea route, with plans to traverse the longer and more treacherous path around the Cape of Good Hope. The initial proposal by the exporter to sail back to the Middle East without unloading the cattle and sheep was rejected by the Department due to concerns over ensuring proper health and welfare arrangements.

The situation surrounding Bahijah and its cargo encapsulates a larger systemic issue inherent within the live animal export industry—an industry marked by a problematic profit-driven model that often prioritizes financial gain over animal welfare. As the vessel heads toward Haifa, stakeholders fear that if the status quo continues, the events from this saga might only repeat themselves, sparking a growing demand for reform and stricter regulations that genuinely protect animal rights during transport.