"If nothing is done, most of the 80 horses in the Palma galleys will end up in the slaughterhouse."

PalmThe replacement of the galleys of Palm The introduction of electric vehicles opens a new chapter for the sector, but it also raises concerns about the uncertain future of the 80 horses that currently pull the carriages. Both drivers and animal rights groups agree on one priority: "We try to prevent them from ending up in the slaughterhouse.".

The replacement will be possible after the Palma City Council reached an agreement with the majority of tourist vehicle drivers. However, the project is still in its initial phase and will require time, funding, and political and social consensus to become a reality. Venancio Vargas, spokesperson for the La Calesa association, told ARA Baleares that the goal is not only to replace the horses but also to "modernize the service," as the licenses are very old. "There is an agreement, but it's still very much in its early stages and there's a lot of work to be done," he warned. Vargas, who is part of the organization representing the vast majority of drivers, also stressed the need to broaden support "beyond the PP" and to involve other parties and civil society in order to promote the project and find funding to acquire the new vehicles. They don't want carriages like those in Alcúdia.

Furthermore, the drivers are pushing for a specific model for Palma, distinct from the small, traditionally styled vehicles of Alcúdia, the first municipality in Mallorca to switch to electric, and are demanding a "more eye-catching" design adapted to the Balearic capital. Regarding the animals, the sector has begun talks with Animal Welfare authorities to ensure a humane outcome for the horses. "If nothing is done, most will end up in the slaughterhouse," warned Vargas, who advocates finding suitable spaces to relocate them. Meanwhile, the animal rights party Progress in Green is working on a rescue program and has established contacts with the Directorate General for Animal Rights in Madrid to ensure that the change in model does not represent a "step backward" in animal protection. A Transition with Guarantees

According to Progreso en Verde, Guillermo Amengual acknowledged that the agreement caught them "off guard," but they are optimistic, despite remaining cautious after years of negotiations without concrete results. They also want to involve Parliament to guarantee a stable framework and ensure a smooth transition.

The City Council announced this Thursday the agreement that allows the formal start of the process to eliminate animal traction from this service. The goal is for the new vehicles to be operational as soon as possible, although, for the moment, no specific deadlines or conditions for the replacement have been established. In 2022, the Palma City Council approved a motion presented by Ciutadans, with votes in favor from PSOE, MÁS, Cs, and Podemos, to ensure that Palma's horse-drawn carriages were electric by the end of 2024. Ultimately, the pioneering initiative was implemented in Alcudia, with two electric carriages.