Islamabad, Sept 18: Australia has offered to give Pakistan a shipload of live sheep for free, the Australian embassy said today, after their Saudi importer rejected them on the grounds they were too diseased. "We have proposed to the Pakistanis that we could facilitate the delivery of the sheep free of charge," acting ambassador Brett Hackett told news agencies.

"In the interests of the sheep's welfare and in the absence of a buyer, it seems to be the best solution which was focussed on minimum continued distress to the sheep."


Some 57,000 sheep worth five million dollars are stranded in searing 50 degree celsius heat on a ship in the Persian Gulf amid conflicting claims between Australia and Saudi over the extent of their infection with 'scabby mouth' disease.

An Australian veterinarian travelling with the sheep tested them as recently as September 15 and found that 0.35 per cent are infected with scabby mouth, described by Canberra as a "minor viral illness". But a Saudi vet says his tests, conducted when the sheep arrived off Jeddah in early September, found six per cent of the sheep were infected.

The fate of the sheep has sparked protests from animal welfare groups in Australia, who have demanded they be put down instead of suffering in the intense heat.


The Australian envoy met Pakistan's minister for food, agriculture and livestocks Sardar Yar Muhamad Rind in Islamabad today to formally convey the offer.
Islamabad has yet to respond and has indicated it would like to conduct its own tests.

Bureau Report