Wish moo were here? Dead COWS wash up on Tenerife beaches, shocking tourists The body of a dead cow washed up on a tourist beach in El Médano, Tenerife Two more appeared a few days later one in an industrial area and another in sea The first was found by two shocked swimmers and a jet skier pushed it to sand Spanish media says the cows could have come from the Polaris 2, a cattle shipBy Rita Sobot In Tenerife For Mail Online Published: 17:46 BST, 1 April 2019 | Updated: 17:52 BST, 1 April 2019 Viewcomments Tourists in the Canary Islands, more used to whale and dolphin spotting, were stunned when the bodies of three cows were seen floating in the sea, with one of them being washed up on a popular beach in Tenerife. The dead animals have systematically appeared over the last seven days and posed a shocking sight in an archipelago known for its animal protection and environmental beauty. The first cow was washed up on the tourist beach of Playa de La Jaquita near the coastal resort of El Médano, favoured by all nationalities, including the Brits and frequented by scores of families who holiday in the south of the island. Spanish media SER Canarias says the cows could have come from the Polaris 2, which flies a Panama flag and moves livestock from South America to Europe or North Africa Two shocked swimmers found it on the seashore and jet ski riders helped to push it onto the sand. Council workers had to tow the carcass away and it was taken to a landfill site. A few days later, another body was washed up on the shore near the industrial area of Granadilla de Abona, and a third was seen floating in the middle of the sea between Tenerife and the picturesque island of La Gomera. The first cow was washed up on the tourist beach of Playa de La Jaquita near the coastal resort of El Médano, favoured by all nationalities, including the Brits and frequented by scores of families who holiday in the south of the island It was found by the crew of a fishing boat. The animals come from freighters loaded with live cattle which have travelled from South America. Because they have such a strong smell, they are forbidden to moor at some ports including Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and have been dubbed 'stink boats'. If an animal dies during the crossing, it is simply thrown overboard. Last year, there were two similar cases in Gran Canaria when dead cows were spotted by windsurfers. Two shocked swimmers found it on the seashore and jet ski riders helped to push it onto the sand One Canary resident said: 'A few years ago, this same thing happened off the coast of Sharm-el-Sheikh in the Red Sea, Egypt.... and was associated with a marked increase in sharks attacks on tourists' Spanish media SER Canarias says the cows could have come from the Polaris 2, which flies a Panama flag and moves livestock from South America to Europe or North Africa. It left Rio Grande (Argentina) on March 22nd and will arrive at the Port of Ceuta on April 4th, passing the Canary Islands on its way. The general director of livestock, David de Vera, told SER Canarias: 'The Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands says that the three animals that appeared on the coasts of the archipelago this week come with all certainty from one of these boats that transport the cattle from the American continent; animals that in all probability died on board and were thrown into the sea. 'The international protocol establishes that animals that die during crossings have to be treated like any other waste, that is, incinerate it on the ship if it has an incinerator or wait to reach port to complete the process. 'The 'Polaris 2' had to request its docking in the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2016 due to an emergency: they had run out of food for the animals. A veterinary inspection also forced the slaughter of 300 cattle. One Canary resident said: 'A few years ago, this same thing happened off the coast of Sharm-el-Sheikh in the Red Sea, Egypt.... and was associated with a marked increase in sharks attacks on tourists.' Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility