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Animal rights activists are to take their latest campaign against live exports to the steps of the Australian Embassy today.

Dressed as sheep and dripping in fake blood, members of Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) will call for a ban on the transport.

Australia dominates the market for live sheep exports to the Middle East,  exporting to around 12 countries.

Stephan Wymore, Research Co-ordinator for ARAN, said 4 million sheep a year are  exported live.

“The conditions these sheep are forced to endure would bring tears to a  person’s eye once they see our footage and hear our appeal of animals in  cramped, unsanitary containers by truck and ship,” he said.

“It’s time this cruel trade is stopped, for good.”

This action is part of a global campaign called Handle With Care — a campaign calling for an end to the long distance transport of live animals for  slaughter.