New protest to demand the end of donkey taxis in Mijas due to animal abuse

Dozens of people gathered this Sunday in Mijas in a new protest organized by the Animalist Party Pacma to demand an end to the exploitation of donkey taxis, which have been used for decades to transport tourists, citing "animal abuse." Chanting "Cut their rope," attendees at the rally, which took place at the Mirador Hermanos Núñez Andreu, called on the local council to "definitively end this anachronistic practice." Representatives from animal rights groups, environmental defenders, and local residents displayed banners reading "Enough with the exploitation. Responsible tourism" and "I spend all day standing and tied to a rope," among others. They also chanted slogans like "Don't be stubborn, get off the donkey." Pacma, which last September filed complaints against both the Mijas Town Council and the donkey taxi drivers for alleged animal abuse, has protested for years against the "unacceptable conditions" in which they are kept. They argue that the donkeys "are forced to endure long working hours in the sun, tied up short, without adequate food or space, and often even sick." "Animal exploitation cannot be a tourist attraction," they insisted, calling on citizens and institutions to move towards a model of ethical tourism. They criticized that, despite the announcement of a "refuge" project for donkeys on a municipal plot, the Council "still has not made a statement regarding the abolition of the service." Pacma warns that the 'Cut their rope' campaign will continue active "until all the donkeys of Mijas are freed." The council announced last Friday that it is processing a recreational park for donkeys, called 'Refugio del burrito,' a project that already has a feasibility study and is now working on the tender. The plan is to develop a recreational park on a plot of over 10,000 square meters where the animals will have more spacious stables and recreation areas, and which will allow promoting interaction with the donkeys in semi-freedom. Furthermore, the council reminded that it has an Animal Welfare Council that ensures their rights are respected and that in the case of the donkeys, it has increased shaded areas, added more drinking troughs and lengthened the rope used as a tether, in addition to creating a resting area. Last year, the Mijas Town Council issued a decree establishing service limitations for donkey taxis in case of heat alerts. Moreover, over the next four years, the number of licenses granted will be reduced by 10%.