A persistent sewage-like odor from a docked ship carrying 19,000 cattle has blanketed the Cape Town area in South Africa, leaving authorities scrambling to find the cause.

Officials inspected various sewage pumping stations before touring Cape Town Port and confirmed on Monday that the odor was caused by a ship carrying cattle that arrived on Sunday night, officials said. announced. Tweet by Dr. Zahid Badrudian, city councilor responsible for water and sanitation. The ship was scheduled to leave port on Monday night, Dr. Badrudian added, according to the tweet.

The ship's condition drew criticism from local animal rights groups. The Iraq-bound ship from Brazil, identified as the Al Kuwait but also known as the Death Ship, has entered Cape Town to load feed, the National Council for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has announced. . statement Monday.

The NSPCA sent a veterinary consultant to assess the health of the cattle on board, the statement added.

” [NSPCA] “We reiterate our firm stance against the export of animals by sea,” the statement began.

“The smell is indicative of the terrible conditions the animals are enduring, having already spent two and a half weeks on board, with faeces and ammonia building up. We face this stench every day,” the NSPCA added. (Related: 20 cows killed after cattle trailer overturns on interstate)

The NSPCA confirmed that the ship departed from Cape Town. another statement Tuesday. The NSPCA said in a statement that it found sick and dead cows on board, and those still alive “had no choice but to rest in dams containing their own waste.” The NSPCA said in a statement that eight cows were euthanized and others were treated.

The NSPCA added that “exporting live animals by sea is a disgraceful and outdated practice” and thanked the South African government and people for their “unwavering support” in allowing ships to enter ports for animal feed.

In early February, a Middle East-bound ship carrying about 16,500 sheep and cattle owned by an Israeli-based export company set sail from Australia, amid continued attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. I was forced to turn back. Concerns about livestock have grown and the Australian Government has provided an update confirming there is no threat to Australia's biosecurity and livestock are in good condition. In the end, four cattle and 64 sheep died on board, seven cattle and six sheep died on land, and all livestock was removed from the ship, according to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. That's what it means. Said.