Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Dead Cattle Contaminate Beaches

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CARACAS, Nov 17 2007 (IPS) - Decomposing remains of dozens of cattle floated near beaches and coastline of Triste Gulf, in the Venezuelan Caribbean, in the days following the Nov. 5 shipwreck of the DM Spiridon, sailing under Lebanese flag, in the port of Cabello. The DM Spiridon carried 1,750 head of cattle, imported from Brazil by Venezuelan meatpacking plants. At least 1,660 perished when the ship ran into the port's breakwater.

“We demand timely information for the population of this coast (with tourism, commercial and industrial activities), because it is contamination that could bring an epidemic or health problems,” Manuel Díaz, of the Venezuelan Ecologist Movement, told Tierramérica, when local authorities affirmed that the floating remains were really just bags of hay to feed the animals during the trip.