Mention honorable dans la catégorie « Reportage »

Animal products are vital components of the diets and livelihoods of people across West Africa. They are frequently traded in local, unregulated markets. Because of the resulting inadequate husbandry, it also poses significant health risks in the context of food safety, zoonoses and public health alike.

The animal welfare situation at many markets in West Africa is dramatic. The hardships for the animals destined for sale at markets already begin on the way there. In the absence of ramps, the cattle suffers brutal treatment, gets beaten up onto the truck and inadequately secured loading areas result in injury of the animals. The animals resist in total panic and finally collapse from stress, getting tied up with the head tethered to the feet so they take up as little space as possible during transport. The animals remain then totaly terrified in the same position for hours, neglect of their basic needs, such as the provision of feed, water and protection from the blazing sun, consequently dehydrated, severely weakened and deeply traumatised.