Animal Cruelty at Spanish Theme Parks: Whipped, Starved, and Buried on Site
A Spanish theme park is under fire after former workers revealed animals were whipped, fed moldy food, and buried dead on the property, with experts calling the abuse "not an isolated case" across the entertainment industry.
For weeks, Puy du Fou in Toledo has faced accusations of systematic animal abuse. Former employees report that dead animals were buried on site, while living animals suffered injuries from whips, swollen eyes, and were left to die [177713]. Some animals were fed moldy food [177713].
This case is not unique. Similar incidents have emerged at other entertainment venues, including the "Tres Tombs" festival in Catalonia, where horses pull heavy carts through crowded streets while wearing metal bits and harnesses that cause stress and breathing problems [177713]. A new documentary, *Desmuntant els Tres Tombs*, criticizes the tradition [177713].
At water parks, whales and dolphins are kept in tiny pools and forced to perform tricks, leading to chronic stress, disease, and early death [177713]. Two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, are currently held at the closed Marineland in France. Authorities want to move them to Loro Parque in Tenerife, where they would continue performing and breeding [177713]. Loro Parque says it follows European rules and calls the move "the best solution" to avoid euthanasia, but critics argue this ignores the option of letting the animals live free [177713].
Companies like Loro Parque and Puy du Fou use animals to make money. As public concern grows, these parks now advertise "animal welfare" codes, which some experts call "welfare washing" [177713].
Laws and morals already stop humans from using each other for entertainment, but this discrimination based on species—called "speciesism"—continues [177713]. Some towns in Spain have already changed: Mataelpino replaced a bull-running event with a safe alternative, and Manganeses de la Polvorosa now throws a stuffed goat from a tower instead of a real one [177713].
Former beluga trainer Shao Ran, who now fights for animal rights, says people should take action for animals in all areas of life [177713]. "Animals cannot defend themselves," the article notes. "They depend on us" [177713].