Sheep in ecological protest

Farmer and flocks parade to protect livestock paths

MADRID, Spain (AP)--Farmers led a flock of hundreds of bleating sheep through downtown Madrid Nov. 12 in an pungent protest urging the protection of ancient grazing routes threatened by urban sprawl.

Around 700 of the animals meandered along major thoroughfares, tinkling bells in a parade that also featured donkeys, horses and people in old-fashioned garb from rural areas of Spain.

The annual protest, now in its 14th year, calls on authorities to protect 78,000 miles of paths used for seasonal movement of livestock, from cool, highland pastures in summer to lower-lying ones in winter.

Some of them are 800 years old. Madrid lies along two of the north-south routes. One of these dates back to 1372, and at least on paper it runs through the Puerta del Sol--the bustling plaza that is Madrid's equivalent of New York City's Times Square.

The routes are protected under Spanish law. But in practice, housing developments, highways and railways have nibbled away at the time-honored paths, said Jesus Garzon, a former farmer and rural activist who launched an initiative to preserve the practice known as transhumance, or the seasonal movement of livestock. In Spain it involves a million animals--sheep, cattle and other creatures.

"Our mission is to recover transhumance because it is a 1,000-year-old right," he said in an interview.

Each route is supposed to be 100 yards wide. Multiply that by the total length of the routes, and the surface area is equivalent to that of the Netherlands or Sweden and amounts to the world's largest pasture area, Garzon said.

"It is a heritage that is unique in the world, and one which we must respect," he said.

Smiling crowds lined the Nov. 12 route past McDonald's, Starbucks and august buildings like the Bank of Spain. Small children squealed with delight as they petted the thick, matted wool of the marchers, a sea of white with the odd black sheep mixed in.

"I want to take one home," said 8-year-old Daniel Pinilla. His father just grinned.

Madrid resident Conchi Munoz filmed her 4-year-old daughter Beatriz as the child lifted one large specimen's tail.

"She is really enjoying this," Munoz said.

A flock of around 1,000 sheep has spent the last week grazing in a park on the city's western outskirts, preparing for the procession. It was to have taken place last weekend, but was delayed by road work that forced crews to build a makeshift bridge so the animals could cross.

More than 200 females missed the Nov. 12 procession because they gave birth during the week and had to stay with their lambs, Garzon said.

Date: 11/22/06

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