Vegans to hold vigil for hundreds of chickens tragically killed in truck crash: 'Their right to rescue was denied'
Hundreds of chickens were believed to have been killed when a truck carrying crates of the live birds tipped over in Queensland. The semi-trailer, which crashed in the west of Brisbane near the top of the Toowoomba range, was reportedly carrying a total of 3,744 chickens.
According to the Courier-Mail, hundreds of them were killed or injured despite the best efforts of firefighters to save as many birds as possible.
The sudden and tragic event immediately sparked a strong response from the vegan community. As a result of the incident, animal activist group Vegans in Toowoomba is planning to hold a vigil this weekend to mourn the mass death.
"There was the devastating scene of a crashed chicken truck with hundreds of distressed and deceased birds on their way to slaughter," Member Mo Orr told the Courier-Mail.
"Vegans in Toowoomba members were on the scene, with the knowledge that Farm Animal Rescue would give homes to some birds in a habitat purpose-built for the special needs of broilers," she said.
"Vets in Toowoomba were ready to care for the birds overnight until we could take them to the sanctuary. Instead, they were thrown unceremoniously into bins, some clearly still alive," she pointed out and added, "Their right to rescue was denied."
According to her, they could have saved more chickens but were not permitted to help during the cleanup. "I'm sad but not surprised at the lack of compassion shown. These animals, all animals, are worthy of our moral consideration, yet they were shown no mercy," she said.
People going to the vigil, scheduled to take place between 9.30 am and 10.30 am at the scene where the truck rolled over, are encouraged to bring flowers. Speaking to Channel 7, firefighters who responded to the scene noted how they never had to rescue chickens before, only cattle in some cases.
"It's quite a mess and it's very hot," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services member Peter McCarron told the outlet. The driver of the truck, fortunately, did not sustain any serious injuries.