From 2024 Palma banned horse -drawn carriages - animal rights activists in turmoil!

From 2024 Palma banned horse -drawn carriages - animal rights activists in turmoil!

Palma, Spanien - vacationers in Mallorca should consider a trip to the capital Palma, where the winding streets and numerous cafés are waiting for them. An outstanding landmark of the city is the impressive cathedral "Le Seu", which attracts many tourists. But in Palma there is currently an intensive discourse on the topic of horse -drawn carriages that have been criticized for several years.

animal rights activists accuse the operators of the horse -drawn carriages that the conditions under which the animals work are unacceptable. In particular, the heat from which horses often have to suffer ensures public outrage. On social media, such as Facebook, there are always calls for a boycott of the horse -drawn carriages. While some people are calling for a ban, others argue for the preservation of this tradition.

City government takes

In 2022, the Palma town hall decided to banish horse carriages until 2024 and to replace it with electrical sequences. This decision was made to give the carriage drivers time to adapt to the new requirements. Despite this perspective, the carriage drivers (Caleseros) reject the ban. Manuel Vargas, a spokesman for the coachman, protests and emphasizes that the coachmen attach great importance to care and respect for their horses.

In addition to the plans to banish horse -drawn carriages, the city of Palma implemented measures to improve animal welfare. Carriers are now obliged to present veterinary certificates that document the vaccinations and treatments of their animals. In addition, the license number of the carriages on the dishes must be read to ensure responsibility. Particular attention is paid to the horseshoes that have to be made of rubber. The horses are not allowed to work at warning levels of the Spanish weather service, otherwise the operators face fines of up to 1,800 euros.

heat stress and controversy

A recent cell phone video that shows a horse that collapses at 40 degrees Celsius has further fueled the discussion about horse -drawn carriages. Animal rights activists warn that the animals often do not get enough water and the rest periods must not be met. These circumstances require urgent and effective measures for animal welfare that the city of Palma has now initiated.

The dispute over the horse -drawn carriages in Palma reflects similar discussions in other cities, as is currently the case in Vienna, where the approval of carriage horses is also wrestled. The city administration remains there with the approval of Fiakers, while the concerns about the animal welfare minister Johannes Rauch are expressed.

For more information, read the articles on The west and Geo.