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Please disembark: a horse-drawn carriage in front of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca
Photo:
Emilio Rappold / dpa
In the city of Palma de Mallorca, horse-drawn carriages, which are popular with many tourists, will no longer be allowed to drive from Thursday next week if there is a heat warning.
This was announced by the town hall of the capital of the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca.
According to the announcement, the ban will come into force when the Spanish weather service Aemet announces the lowest yellow warning level.
This usually applies from about 36 degrees.
Animal rights activists have been complaining for many years about the suffering of the horses that used to drive holidaymakers through the streets of the capital, even in the heat.
The fall of a horse at the end of July fueled the debate again.
It didn't take long for the town hall to calm down and quickly announced that they wanted to completely abolish the carriages by 2024.
But until that happens, the driving ban in the heat will apply for the time being.
Fine of up to 1800 euros
According to the announcement, violations can result in fines of between 900 and 1800 euros and the withdrawal of the license.
The coachmen criticized the city's decision.
The incident at the end of July happened because the horse stumbled, they say.
The animal did not collapse because of heat stroke, the "Mallorca Zeitung" quoted association spokesman Manuel Vargas as saying.
A vet has now certified that the horse is healthy.
Mallorca is now debating what an alternative for the tourist attraction could look like if horse-drawn carriages were to be abolished.
So far it is unclear what that could be.
Those tourists who like to drive around Palma don't have to worry for the time being.
After two heat waves, the temperatures on the island are now a little lower, and the next two weeks are also expected to warm up to a maximum of 29 to 33 degrees.
atb/dpa