We participate in the Peropalo carnival (Villanueva de la Vera) to ensure the welfare of its donkey
Posted on 15 February 2016.The Peropalo Carnival centres around a donkey being taken through the narrow village streets, ridden by a drunkard and led through a crowd who also fire shotguns and bang drums next to the animal. The donkey falls and suffers from stress throughout the show, which lasts for about one hour.
Our Animal Welfare team visited Villanueva de la Vera, where this act is held, last February the 9th. This year, the City Council of Villanueva de la Vera has organised a security zone around the donkey, named Celipa. Furthermore, gun shots were limited to the furthest from the animal.
The City Council has collaborated at all times and allowed the welfare team from El Refugio del Burrito and the vet to visit the stables and examine the animal after the show.
Although El Refugio del Burrito continues to demand the ban on the use of a living donkey –we have proposed the utilization of a wodden donkey- we thank the cooperation from the authorities and we recognize there has been an improvement in the conditions that we witnessed last year.
We recently rescued Felipe, the donkey that was used in the Peropalo Carnival for the last five years. The City Council of Villanueva de la Vera agreed to give us the donkey, thus recognizing that he is no longer healthy and fit to participate in this parade and giving priority to the animal’s welfare. This year, Celipa occupied his place.