After over a year of protests from local animal welfare campaigners, who have campaigned for the cessation of live exports from Ramsgate Port in Kent, which they say is not fit for purpose, 45 sheep have died when a section of flooring collapsed.

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RSPCA has called for an immediate suspension of live exports from the port in the wake of Wednesday’s tragedy, which the charity has described as “a fiasco.” Over the past year RSPCA investigators have been on hand in Ramsgate to oversee loading of animals onto the ship which takes them to the European mainland.

Ramsgate is the only British port currently being used for shipping live animals abroad for further fattening and slaughter. The export trade switched to Ramsgate following damage to loading equipment at Dover port in 2011.

On Wednesday morning, a lorry loaded with four tiers of sheep, over 500 animals in all, was stopped at the port and declared unfit for further travel due to faults to the vehicle. The same vehicle had been declared unfit for travel last month and had failed twice on previous visits to the port.

The sheep on board the lorry had to be unloaded while the transporters tried to procure another means of transport whereupon it was discovered that animals on board had sustained injuries. One sheep had a broken leg and another was injured seriously enough that both animals were euthanized on the advice of a veterinarian.

Sheep were then loaded into an area where the floor collapsed, RSPCA officers said. A number of sheep fell into the water, where six were rescued by RSPCA officers, but two drowned. Of the remainder, 41 animals were found to be lame and were shot.  

Two French lorry drivers were arrested at the scene.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant commented on the incident in Ramsgate, “This trade needs to stop right now. We told the port authorities right from the start that they did not have the facilities to handle live exports safely.

“The RSPCA has been warning that a significant welfare incident like this could lead to tragedy for the animals and now it has. Early this summer we sent a report to the local authority warning that this would happen.”

Thanet Councillors, local MPs and national animal welfare groups have called for an end to exports from Ramsgate. Thanet South MP Laura Sandys has been in dialogue with the Environment secretary, demanding an end to the “disgusting” trade.

Local campaigners claim there is a lack of adequate facilities at Ramsgate. They say this was highlighted when an earlier shipment from Northamptonshire was halted and animals had to spend 24 hours on the transporter before being taken back. Ms Sandys said on Wednesday, "I will bring up our grave concerns about this trade in general but our great shock at this particular event [with the Environment Sectretary].”

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