WSPA calls on Egyptian PM to stop pig cull

19 May 2009

WSPA calls on Egyptian Prime Minister to stop pig cull

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has written to the Prime Minister of Egypt calling for an immediate end to the brutal handling and slaughter of pigs in Egypt.

Peter Davies, Director General at WSPA comments: ``WSPA has received shocking first hand accounts from our member societies in Egypt, of the cruel and inhumane treatment of pigs there. Our supporters will be shocked by the graphic footage of this brutal operation now available on the internet.’’

Distressing video footage has appeared on YouTube highlighting the cruel and inhumane methods involved in the cull, including pigs being hit with iron bars, kicked and burned alive with chemicals. This graphic footage can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/almasryalyoum although viewer discretion is strongly advised.

It was initially reported that the pig cull in Egypt was intended as a precaution against the spread of the ‘swine flu’ infection from pigs to humans. It is now known that the culling of pigs in densely populated areas of Cairo had been decided a year ago for other reasons, and that news about swine flu was used as an incentive to put that decision into practice.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has stated that culling is an inappropriate reaction to the outbreak of `swine flu’, as there is no known link between the flu and pigs. A statement on the OIE website clarifies this further, advising member countries in no uncertain terms `that the culling of pigs will not help to guard against public or animal health risks.’

Peter Davies, Director General at WSPA comments: `The World Society for the Protection of Animals strongly urges Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to stop the inhumane cull of pigs. We want the Prime Minister to bring Egyptian animal welfare legislation in line with the OIE guidelines on transport and slaughter agreed in 2005.’

Irrespective of the government’s justification for the cull, WSPA is asking the Prime Minister to ensure that any pigs which are killed are done so quickly and humanely using the international standards that Egypt has already agreed upon.

Islamic religious leaders in Cairo condemned the slaughter. The head of the Fatwas Committee at the University of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Salim Mohammed Salim, has said that killing an animal using these methods is ``strictly forbidden by Islam... whatever it is, including a pig.’’ (Footnote 1)

While the origin of the current outbreak of swine flu is not yet known, there have been reports that the rapid increase of intensive farming practices – also known as factory farming – across the world could have influenced the development of such unusual viral hybrids.

Peter adds: `Humanely farmed animals live longer, healthier and more active lives and the meat they produce is better for you. The World Society for the Protection of Animals has for a long time been concerned that overcrowding and lack of adequate sanitation typical in intensive animal agriculture puts animal and human populations at high risk of diseases, spread through animals such as pigs during their rearing and transportation.’

These risks can be greatly reduced by introducing positive change in the farming industry, keeping fewer animals in better conditions. WSPA is working hard to convince governments, farmers and consumers that organic and free range farming which puts a greater emphasis on improving animal welfare is better not only for the animals, but also for people and the environment.

Find out more about WSPA’s farm animal welfare work at www.wspa.org.uk

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