Animal rights activists sound the alarm: brutal carp slaughter uncovered in Vienna!

Animal rights activists sound the alarm: brutal carp slaughter uncovered in Vienna!

In Vienna at Christmas time, not only the festival of lights but also Christmas carp is very popular. But animal rights activists are currently sounding the alarm about the abuses at fish stalls that they uncovered during their visits before Christmas. The Association against animal factories (VGT) documented serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which were particularly noticeable when dealing with Christmas carp.

The reports from animal rights activists are anything but reassuring. At Brunnenmarkt in the 16th district, carp were observed being kept in boxes without water for several minutes. This improper storage causes significant stress and leads to painful suffocation of the fish. A targeted blow to the back of the head was supposed to stun the animals, but the VGT employees saw the carp repeatedly brutally beaten without eliminating the animals' consciousness. Where the anesthesia was supposed to be effective, the fish instead experienced panic and suffering Cosmo reported.

Disadvantages at Christmas markets

The situation is particularly alarming at the Meiselmarkt in Vienna-Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, where VGT employees discovered that carp were being ritually killed after several inadequate stunning attempts. One fish continued to show violent movements after a throat cut, indicating inadequate killing. Such incidents raise serious questions about the professionalism of fish sellers and oversight by authorities.

The animal rights activists are disappointed and are calling for greater commitment from the authorities in order to avoid such abuses in the future. “There’s something going on!” says a VGT employee as he watches the helpless animals. The Animal Welfare Act guarantees carp the right to a worthwhile existence and prohibits causing them pain and suffering without a reasonable reason. Investigations must now clarify to what extent this law was violated. The Animal Protection Act stipulates that animals may only be killed under pain control and this apparently did not happen in these cases.

Consequences for the fish sellers

The investigation has already led to reports. The animal rights activists have taken legal action at several stalls in Vienna to take action against the alleged violations. “We urgently need to improve the living conditions and the killing of animals at Christmas time,” said a VGT representative in an interview. We must not forget that it is not just the enjoyment of Christmas carp that counts, but also the welfare of the animals.
The responsibility lies with people and it is time for us to look and act.

One thing is clear: Christmas carp should remain a holiday dish in local kitchens, but without the painful fate of the animals who have to suffer for it. The animal rights activists are therefore calling on the authorities to immediately review the methods used in the Viennese markets before further tragic incidents can occur.