News & Media: Hidden cameras capture harrowing footage of alleged animal cruelty at Snowtown Abattoir
Hidden cameras capture harrowing footage of alleged animal cruelty at Snowtown Abattoir
Hidden cameras placed in a regional South Australian abattoir have captured what an animal activist group claims to be the unethical slaughter of cows, goats and sheep.
The graphic footage, filmed by the Farm Transparency Project, shows the animals allegedly being slaughtered at Snowtown Abattoir without the use of stunning tools.
Shot in June, the footage shows the animals dying long, painful deaths in the Halal-branded slaughterhouse, with many appearing to be fully conscious as their throats were slit.
The Advertiser has chosen not to publish the video due to its graphic content.
According to Australia’s Food Regulation Standing Committee, in an approved Halal “ritual slaughter arrangement”, animals must be “stunned” before being slaughtered.
A spokesman from the Department for Environment and Water said the department was aware of the footage taken at the abattoir.
“The footage is currently being reviewed to see if there are any potential breaches of legislation,” he said.
“Appropriate action will be taken where any potential breaches are identified.”
Farm Transparency Project executive director Chris Delforce said the harrowing footage was “almost unwatchable”.
“The footage from Snowtown of sheep and goats struggling and screaming as their throats are slit while fully conscious is horrific, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“The fact that authorities have seen this footage and are yet to take any action is completely unacceptable.
“We’ve provided the footage, we’ve given witness statements and we’ve heard nothing.”
Mr Delforce said he first filmed the Snowtown Abattoir in 2017, where he encountered the farm’s disregard for using stunning tools.
“Without stunning an animal is fully conscious, experiencing pain and fear during their death,” he said.
The Snowtown facility is part of a wider operation by the Farm Transparency Project to shut down 30 slaughterhouses across the country they claim practice improper put down techniques.
Animal Liberation regional campaigns manager Lisa Ryan said practices at the Snowtown facility had been under scrutiny for the past six years.
“We had no reason to believe that anything had improved in that time, but it’s very disheartening to see that things have only gotten worse,” she said.
“There is very little monitoring or oversight in Australian slaughterhouses, halal or otherwise.”
The Advertiser attempted to contact Snowtown Abattoir for comment but did not receive a response.
