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Horrifying footage of sheep baking to death on board a slaughter ship has been leaked by a whistleblower.

The suffering animals can be seen caked in their own faeces and and fighting to try and get food and water as they are shipped from Australia to the Middle East.

Several animals die on the journey because of the sickening conditions they are kept in.

The footage has been released by Animals Australia, a campaign group that wants live, long-haul animal exporting to be banned.

The group says the video is comprised of footage taken on five 'routine' sheep shipments to the Middle East.

(Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia)

A concerned crew member took the video before leaking it and it has all now been provided to state and federal authorities in Australia.

Animals Australia says that "more than 100,000 litres of urine and faeces accumulates on a typical live export ship every day".

It adds: "Corrosive ammonia chokes the air and burns the eyes and throats of those on board.

"Distressed animals rapidly overheat. Their hearts race as they gasp for oxygen.

"Trapped in what is essentially a ‘giant oven’, extremely heat stressed animals collapse before literally being cooked alive."

(Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia)

The Department of Agriculture in Australia has said it would demand live exporter Emanuel reduce its stocking densities on a ship due to sail from Fremantle this week by 17.5%, the equivalent to freeing up two extra decks on a 10-deck vessel, reports Perth Now.

Animals Australia claims more than 2000 sheep died of heat stroke on one voyage, describing the scale of neglect as staggering.

Emanuel managing director Graham Daws last week said the company would “do whatever is appropriate to be done” to meet the government requirements.

“Nobody is more gutted than us,” he said.

(Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia) (Image: Animals Australia)

“Sheep producers will be mortified to discover that animals born into their care have ended up being literally cooked alive on live export vessels,” Animals Australia’s Lyn White said.

“One look at these overcrowded pens and you can see the ruthless disregard for the wellbeing of these animals. They are being treated like cargo, not living beings.”

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