Outrage over Cornwall Park cows being shipped to Mongolia

Officials who run Auckland’s iconic Cornwall Park have come under fire after it was revealed that the cows in the park will be shipped to Mongolia.

Animal rights group Save Animals From Exploitation (Safe) is asking the Cornwall Park Board of Trust to reconsider its decision and not sell any more animals to live exporters.

The information was revealed in a Facebook post shared on the official Cornwall Park page.

“Cornwall Park is proud that our cows have been selected to help establish a breeding program for Mongolian farmers.

“Like New Zealand, Mongolia’s farming systems are grass-based,” it reads.

“This program will help these remote villages become more self-sufficient and improve the living standards of the villagers.”

Safe CEO Debra Ashton said Auckland residents would be surprised to learn that their park was being used to raise animals for the controversial live animal export trade.

“Does the Cornwall Park Board of Trust know with certainty the conditions to which they are sending their cows?

“They will face a long and difficult journey in cramped and disgusting conditions before arriving in a country with high elevations and cold, dry conditions.”

The trusted board has been contacted for comment.

Ashton said conditions in Mongolia would be “very different” from her upbringing in lush Cornwall Park.

Many annoyed and disgruntled locals also made their views known on Facebook.

Many of those who commented said they did not support the export of live animals to other countries.

“Surely they already have their own cows in their country more adapted to their climate and area. I do not agree with live exports,” wrote one woman.

“Please don’t do this,” appealed another.

“It is an incredibly cruel journey and the conditions in Mongolia are very cold and harsh, that’s why yaks have so much hair! Ban the export of live animals.”

Another said: “This is very sad, Cornwall Park. Are the few [dollars] Will you make these cows worth the suffering they will go through aboard a ship in the short term?