More than 800 cattle, which have been at sea on a ship in the Mediterranean since December, have been ordered to be put down by Spanish authorities, Reuters reports.


The cattle, mainly weanling bulls, were aboard the livestock ship the Karim Allah, which left the Spanish port of Cartagena on 18 December.

They were destined for Turkey, but the ship was not allowed to dock due to fears that the animals had bluetongue.

The ship was subsequently turned away by other countries before returning to Cartagena last week.

Poor state

Spanish vets inspected the animals and found them to be in a poor state and not fit for transport, recommending that they be euthanised.

It is not clear whether the cattle did have bluetongue.