The Ethiopian Airlines says it has transported live animals, including primates in line with international aviation rules.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the airlines, Mesfin Tasew, said that the airlines had been transporting live animals, including monkeys, sheep and goats, fishes, cows and bulls in line with international aviation laws and regulations.
The CEO’s remark came after repeated accusations that the airline has transported wild animals from West Africa, including many species of ‘high biosecurity concern’, such as bats and primates.
The World Animal Protection singled out Africa’s largest airline as a major player in the global export of live wild-caught animals.
African grey parrots, civets, genets, primates, bush babies, marsh mongooses and Egyptian fruit bats are among the animals frequently flown by the airline to Europe, the US, Asia, Russia and the Middle East.
“We transport live animals as long as payment is effected and they are transported by a legal entity,” Tasew said.
“This is complying with international aviation rules; we transport such animals under legal permits from different countries, and we comply with international laws,” the CEO said.
A year ago, PETA launched a campaign against Africa’s largest airline over the purported transport of the endangered monkeys across the Atlantic.
MG/GIK/APA
Ethiopian Airlines defends transportation of live animals
