ROSTOV-ON-DON, February 9 (RIA Novosti) - The arrival
of a truck to transport 18 circus camels which have been held
at the Russian-Ukrainian border for over a week has been
delayed until Wednesday, a Russian border official said on
Monday.
A truck carrying the camels from the southern Russian
republic of Kalmykia was stopped by Ukrainian customs officials
after crossing the Russian border on January 31. Customs agents
checked all of the documents and cleared the truck containing
the animals to leave Russia, but the truck was not allowed into
Ukrainian territory. The animals are bound for circuses in
Bulgaria.
Last Friday, the Bulgarian circus sent its own truck to
transport the animals via the territory of Russia, Belarus and
Poland. It was earlier expected to arrive late on Sunday or
early on Monday.
Two of the 20 camels, which were to be delivered to a
Bulgarian circus, have already died. The animals have had to
endure freezing temperatures, although hay and water are being
provided.
"We have recently established contact with drivers of the
truck. They are currently on the border with Moldavia. I think
they could arrive by Wednesday," the head of the Russian border
checkpoint said.
The delay could have been caused by "several state
borders, and, possibly, by weather conditions," she added.
A Russian customs spokesman earlier said that the animals
had been denied entry to Ukraine in connection with laws
prohibiting the transit of animals through the country due to
concerns over African swine fever.
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