A ship carrying approximately 14,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle is stranded off the coast of Australia in an area experiencing extreme heat. The vessel had to embark on a journey avoiding the Red Sea, raising concerns from animal welfare advocates. The ship departed from Australia on January 5, heading to Israel to offload its cargo, but changed its route in mid-January due to threats of attacks from the Houthis in Yemen, before receiving instructions from the Australian government to return.
Sector officials and government representatives stated, "There is uncertainty regarding the status of the animals now. They may be unloaded in Australia, where they would need to undergo a quarantine under the country’s biosecurity rules, or be sent back to sea to embark on a journey to Israel around Africa, which would take a month, avoiding the Red Sea." This incident highlights the growing negative impact of Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a key maritime route between Europe and Asia, which has affected global trade.
