Palma horse carriages: protest demands an end

Palma horse carriages face a protest outside Mallorca Cathedral on Saturday, as campaigners call for the service to end. Satya Animal has set the demonstration for 11.00 on Palau Reial street in Palma. The group wants Palma City Council to publish a firm timetable for taking every horse out of carriage work.

The council has suggested replacing some carriages with electric vehicles. Satya Animal says that alone is not enough. It wants a full withdrawal of horses from the trade, with deadlines attached.

The campaigners also want guarantees over what happens to the animals afterwards. Their proposal is to move them to sanctuaries, shelters or suitable private fincas, where they would not return to work.

Satya Animal has linked the protest to a recent row between a carriage driver and a tourist. The tourist said she was insulted and assaulted after asking for one of the horses to be given water.

The organisation has also raised concerns over veterinary checks. It says council rules require annual technical and health inspections, but that this season began without the horses having undergone that review.

Satya Animal says it will hold further demonstrations every Saturday in September until Palma City Council gives a clear response and commitments.

Topics: Protests · Tourism · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com