Dead cow at Altea beach is second on Costa Blanca in less than a week

Cases are so far unexplained but cargo ships carrying livestock have been blamed for previous similar incidents

A dead cow in the sea at a beach is an unpleasant surprise for bathers but is not as uncommon as you may think.

The severely decomposed body of a cow was spotted in the bay between Playas de l’Olla and Espigó in Altea on Monday evening, only days after a similar discovery in Torrevieja.

The carcass, which was floating near the line of buoys marking the edge of the bathing area, was first noticed by local resident Antonio Alcaraz, who was out on his jet-ski at the time.

He told Spanish press it had been a “surreal” experience, as at first he had thought it was a large piece of plastic, then a sperm whale, and when he got closer it seemed more like a bull, but then he saw it had no horns and realised it was a cow.

“I got the impression it was not like those which are seen around here,” commented Antonio.
“It was whole and did not smell at all, as if it had not been in the water for long.”

After reporting it to the local police, who told him it would be washed up on a beach within a couple of hours, he went ashore, still wondering where it had come from.

Bathers at La Mata beach on July 30 also spotted something large in the water, but could not tell it was a dead cow until it was washed up on the shore.

In both cases, photos of the dead animals were shared widely on social media, but no official explanation has been given for either.

Similar cases have occurred relatively often all over Spain, including one in Jávea in March 2022, one in El Campello in October 2021, one in Águilas (Murcia) in March 2021, and one in Elche in August 2018, to name but a few nearby examples.

More recently, two dead cows were found floating by a beach in Marbella in December 2024.

Are livestock export ships to blame?

Animal rights campaigners have long insisted that in most cases such as these the cows have come from huge cargo ships transporting livestock.

They claim that the conditions aboard these vessels are appalling, and animals often fall overboard or are thrown into the sea if they get sick or die, even though this is totally prohibited.

In March 2021, the Spanish government ordered almost 900 cows to be put down on a cargo ship in Cartagena, and almost 2,000 more on another ship in the port there, after both vessels had been refused permission to dock in Turkey.

In both cases veterinary inspectors filed damning reports about the filthy and overcrowded conditions on board.

Groups such as political party PACMA and the Fundación Igualdad Animal (animal equality foundation) continue to campaign for shipping of livestock to be banned, including a petition.

According to Igualdad Animal, more than two billion animals suffer on long-distance voyages every year, only to be slaughtered when they reach their destination.

“Thousands die during the journey from dehydration, extreme stress, malnutrition, injuries or illnesses,” they assure.

PACMA says that Spain exports more than 1.5 million live animals per year, within and to outside of the EU.
The UK banned exports of live animals in May 2024.

The EU is currently revising its legislation on live animal exports to improve animal welfare and the vote in the Joint Committees is scheduled for October 2.

Image: Antonio Alcaraz / Facebook