Palma horse-carriage protest demands electric switch

Palma, Mallorca: campaigners plan a march on Saturday, 17 October, to demand that electric carriages replace horse-drawn ones. Satya Animal, Progreso en Verde and Arde have called the demonstration for 18.00. The march is set to leave from the Plaza de la Porta de Santa Catalina, pass through the Feixina, Paseo de Sagrera and Avenida de Antoni Maura, and finish at the Plaza de la Reina.

The groups want Palma City Council to publish a timetable with firm deadlines for the switch. They also want horses withdrawn from carriage work and given decent retirement conditions.

The organisers say the physical effort, traffic, asphalt and weather put the horses at constant risk. They say effective restrictions are lacking and question the checks and inspections meant to protect the animals. For them, this is not just a tourism issue or a tradition beyond debate: electric carriages would allow the rides to continue without horses doing the work.

Topics: Protests · Nature & wildlife · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com