Animal Rights Protest Met By Counter Protest Over Donkey Taxis In Mijas, Spain

Any tourist that has visited the inland town of Mijas Pueblo has seen the traditional donkey taxis, waiting to take them around the town. However, animal rights groups are against the practice that sees donkeys pulling taxis, or donkey rides in the Andalucian town. Meanwhile, with the current heatwaves in southern Spain, activists are more against the practice than ever. Yes, the donkeys look cute with their fancy tackle, but is it fair to keep pushing them to work, despite extreme heat?

Animal rights protest met by counter-protest over Mijas donkey taxis

Thursday, August 22 saw tensions rise over the donkey taxis, with animal rights protesters chanting, “End animal mistreatment now.” Meanwhile, a counter-protest by donkey owners responded by saying, “This is our pueblo” while saying if the practice stops, many families would lose income.

The protest started at lunchtime on Thursday but is only the latest in many protests over what is said to be cruelty to the donkeys. People gathered in front of a donkey statue in Mijas Pueblo in the place where donkey taxis and horse-drawn carriages wait for business with their drivers and handlers.

Police reinforcements arrive

The tensions quickly increased in Plaza Virgen de la Peña, with the counter-protesters cheering, “A round of applause for the donkeys.” Meanwhile, a security cordon made up of Local Police saw the National Police and Guardia Civil joining in.

The animal rights protesters were quick to tell the officers, “We have our permits, they don’t and you are allowing them to be here.”

“Enough of animal abuse,” shouted the protest participants, many of whom had come together over social media groups set up to demand the release of the Mijas donkeys.

Sur In English quotes the organizer of the animal protest, French native resident Anne Blitz.

We are only asking for an end to a medieval activity, we don’t want more tourists riding on donkeys. Mijas receives European funds and therefore should follow the recommendations of Europe on the subject.

 They say that the donkey taxi is something cultural; in Africa genital mutilation is also cultural and that does not mean it should continue.

Blitz went on to explain that they were proposing that the Mijas council replace the animals with tuk-tuk bike taxis. The animal rights activists explained that these would be offered to the current donkey owners so they could still make a living with tourist rides. “We are looking for something fair for everyone,” she added.

Moreover, the activists suggested that local authorities could buy the donkeys and set them up in sanctuaries where they could live in the wild. A donkey sanctuary is located close by, known as Donkey Dreamland.

Mijas donkey owners respond

In response to Blitz’s words, the donkey owners explained that around 20 families depend on the business. Álvaro Jiménez from the Asociación del Asno de Pura Raza Andaluza donkey association said that what the activists were demanding wasn’t in the best interest of the donkeys themselves.

“If they take away these families’ livelihoods, they will eventually sell the animals to a dealer, who in turn will slaughter them, because if an animal loses its function, it is useless. It is not logical what they are asking for,” he added.

British tourist punched by donkey owner

Meanwhile, tensions have further risen in Mijas Pueblo after activists accused the donkey owners of making the animals work in particularly hot weather. While the owners denied this, the local council recently adapted its bylaws to prevent the use of the donkeys between 12 pm and 6 pm when a yellow or amber hot weather warning was in place. However, they owners kept their animals working.

On Sunday, August 17, a British tourist was punched by a donkey owner for videoing the donkeys in the street. The local council would not comment until the police report was handled. The tourist posted a video on YouTube, which is included here.