It caused intense discomfort to its residents Cape Town the stench that engulfed the South African metropolis due to a ship carrying 19,000 cattle, which set sail to load feed and continue its journey to Iraq. Derived from Brazilthe ship sailed into Cape Town on Sunday bringing with it a “vomiting stench,” as described in local media reports.

Many residents initially attributed the stench to a sewage project, but a city councilor confirmed on Monday that it was coming from the ship “Al Kuwait”which was boarded by inspectors from the National Council for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).

THE Inspector Grace Le Grange told Reuters news agency that the animals’ hooves were soaked in excrement, complaining about the unsanitary conditions on board after two and a half weeks at sea. Some cattle had to be killed because of serious injuries sustained during the journey, he added.