Another Flight Leaves the Edmonton International Airport
September, 2023
On August 21, 2023, another Korean Air Cargo flight left the Edmonton International Airport carrying ninety-nine horses to Japan to be slaughtered for human consumption.
All were Belgian crosses with an average weight of 857.3 kg. (approximately 1900 lbs.).
They were just two-years-old (born in 2021). Of the horses in isolation who underwent testing, three tested positive for equine viral arteritis (EVA) and were removed.
On August 24, 2023, an amendment to the Veterinary Health Certificate was issued correcting the gender of one horse and the start date of the isolation period:
Timeline
August 20 (Sunday)
4:30 p.m. The horses last access to feed, water and rest.
Loading of trailers began at premises.
5:30 p.m. Loading of trailers finished.
8:40 pm. Six trucks/trailers arrived at the airport. They were 40 minutes late, as one of the trucks’ oil caps had fallen off, necessitating its replacement and the addition of more oil.
It is unclear if they left together, as a group or if each truck left immediately after loading. Ground transport lasted a little over three hours if they left and arrived at the airport together (5:30 to 8:40).
Truck 1 – 12 horses
Truck 2 – 18 horses
Truck 3 – 18 horses
Truck 4 – 15 horses
Truck 5 – 18 horses
Truck 6 – 18 horses
The crate loading procedure took approximately one hour to complete, finishing at 10:03 p.m… Three horses were crammed into each crate.
August 21 (Monday)
1:08 a.m. Korean Air Cargo freighter arrives.
1:45 a.m.: Cleaning and disinfecting of aircraft complete.
2:03 a.m. Loading crated horses on aircraft began.
3:04 a.m. Aircraft loading finished.
3:37 a.m. Aircraft departs.
According to FlightAware, Korean Air Cargo flight number 8214 left the Edmonton airport at 03:37; the flight was 12 hours and 33 minutes in duration, including a refueling stop in Anchorage.
It appears that the horses were without food, water, and rest for less than the 28 hours allowed; however, it is important to note that we do not know how long it took to unload the horses from the aircraft in Japan or the transport time to quarantine there.
Last access to food, water and rest (f/w/r) at feedlot: 4:30 p.m. Aug. 20th
Plane departure from YEG 3.37 a.m. Aug. 21st
Total number of hours = 11 hours and 7 minutes
Hours in flight = 12 hours and 33 minutes
Total time without f/w/r = 23 hours and 40 minutes*
*(not including unloading and transport to quarantine in Japan)
Ninety-nine horses were loaded into 33 crates, 3 horses in each one
Partial list of horses on the Veterinary Health Certificate Export Horses to Japan HA1138
On June 21, 2023, Senator Pierre Dalphond and Canadian icon Jann Arden announced the introduction of Bill S-270, the Horse Protection Act a new Senate bill proposing to ban the export of live horses for slaughter. The Liberal Party promised Canadians such a ban in the 2021 federal election, a commitment reflected in the mandate letter of the re-elected Prime Minister to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
On September19th, 2023, MP Tim Louis introduced Private Member’s Bill C-355 to ban the export of lives horses for slaughter with the backing of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. MP Louis is seeking collaboration from all parties to work towards its adoption.
Please contact your MP to ask them to support PMB C-355 to ban horse exports for slaughter.
For your convenience, a letter has been created that you can send.
For more information about horse slaughter and the exportation of live horses from Canada for slaughter, please visit our website, blog, archived blog, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Vimeo.
