Long-distance transport
Every year, thousands of pigs endure cramped, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions while being transported more than 4,000 miles from mainland U.S. to Hawaii.
During the one-week journey, these animals:
Are subjected to vehicle motions, noise and exposure to extreme temperatures
Cannot stand in their natural position or lie down comfortably due to overcrowded conditions
Often times go for long periods without any food or water
Do not receive adequate ventilation or bedding materials
Are left standing in their own wastes for the entire duration of the journey
Are mixed with animals from different herds, which can cause anxiety, stress and aggression
As a result, pigs in transport can suffer from stress-related illnesses, horrific injuries, diseases and overexposure – and many die before they reach their destination. Those who survive arrive in Hawaii exhausted, hungry, thirsty and ill. They are then kept in cramped and filthy pens for up to two weeks before being slaughtered and sold to Hawaiian consumers.
It doesn’t have to be this way
WSPA supports ending the long-distance transport of live animals and, instead, urges the humane slaughter of animals as close to the point of production as possible. The food products can then be transported in modern chilled or frozen meat facilities and delivered fresh to their destination.
Read WSPA’s full report, No Paradise for Pigs (PDF) for more information.
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