Fresh footage has emerged from the livestock carrier Spiridon II, shedding new light on conditions onboard after the vessel spent weeks stranded off Turkey with thousands of cattle. The 1973-built ship transported close to 3,000 animals from Uruguay in late 2025 on a voyage initially bound for Turkey. The journey lasted around four weeks, during which a number of cattle died and around 140 calves were born at sea, raising questions over the condition of animals loaded for export. Problems escalated on arrival, when Turkish authorities refused entry due to discrepancies in import documentation, reportedly involving around 500 missing animals from official lists. The vessel was left waiting offshore for several weeks, with the cargo remaining onboard. Exclusive video footage taken shortly after arrival in Turkey shows weakened animals, poor hygiene conditions and newborn calves housed in cramped spaces. Welfare groups say the situation likely deteriorated further during the extended delay. After more than two months at sea, the vessel eventually discharged the surviving animals in Benghazi, Libya, bringing an end to a case that has drawn international attention to the risks of long-haul live animal transport. The dispute over responsibility is ongoing. Importers in Turkey have reportedly launched legal action against an Austrian livestock trader involved in organising the shipment, alleging cattle were loaded despite known risks that entry could be denied. The trader has rejected wrongdoing, according to local reports, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the voyage. The Spiridon II case has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over live animal exports, with industry critics pointing to systemic issues around animal welfare, voyage planning and regulatory oversight on long-distance shipments. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsAustria Turkey