Activists challenge fiesta where cockerels are forced to drink alcohol

PACMA, an animal rights political party in Mallorca, has spoken out against the celebration of a tradition in Muro where youths killed several cockerels and gooses to mark their birthday.

The festival of ‘Los Quintos’ in Muro is celebrated when local young people turn 18, and consists of forcing the birds to ingest alcoholic beverages, and then decapitating them.

“This behaviour lacks a minimum of ethics and empathy for the suffering of animals,” reads a PACMA statement, which adds that it could represent a crime of violence against animals. They also point out the lack of action from police officers, who can be seen accompanying the young group in pictures of the event uploaded to facebook.

PACMA and the Animal Rights Association of the Balearic Islands (ASAIB) have issued a formal complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s environment office.

Muro Council has responded in defence of the youths and said that the two Civil Protection officers and two Local Police officers ensured that the celebrations were carried out as planned. “In fact, the ‘Quintos’ (youths) of 2015 have been congratulated for their good behaviour,” said the mayor.

PACMA’S complaint is based on pictures recently added to Facebook from the 2014 celebration. In addition, PACMA claims that the pictures of the 2015 event show remains of cockerels in plastic bags. This time, the youths allegedly used small fireworks to kill the birds.