Buri Ram is located in the southeastern part of the Khorat plateau, on the border with Cambodia. There are numerous extinct volcanoes in this province. The city of Buri Ram is situated about 400 kilometers north-east of Bangkok.

Buri Ram is also known as the province of kindness. It is one of the biggest and most popular provinces in Isaan. The main economic activities in Buri Ram are agriculture and tourism; there are also some very big pig farms.

Despite all the positive sides of this province one of our animal welfare officers reported of appalling conditions off the beaten track. The road to the slaughterhouse is certainly full of stress for all farmed animals. But here arose pictures of unimaginable cruelty. A pig truck on the way to the slaughterhouse. The loading area is full of small, stacked pallet cages. The pigs are constantly trying to get to their feet, which, from lack of space, is an impossible undertaking.

From the heat, the stress and strain, the pigs vomit and suffer from diarrhea. All these excretions fall from the top grid boxes onto all underlying cages and thus the pigs hurt themselves rubbing against the cages to gain space. The animals are so jammed that they constantly butt their heads together. Attempted turf wars end with the pigs biting each other bloody. Everywhere on the bodies are scratches and bite marks. Some animals show strong foaming at the mouth and others are hanging in the boxes apathetically.

Seeing this makes you lose the appetite for the Sunday roast pork. 'Animal Protection concerns us all!' sees its task in vehemently combating this suffering.