Spain Fiestas Tamed as Animal Groups Battle On
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MANGANESES DE LA POLVOROSA, Spain — Butterfly the goat plunged from the village belfry into a canvas sheet held by local farmers.
The crowd roared its approval and the slightly bemused, but unscathed animal was dumped in a wheelbarrow and dragged off to a dance at the village disco.
“She’s called Butterfly because she can fly,” explained a laughing youth as he ran behind the goat.
For animal rights’ activists this was another minor victory in their long-running campaign to tame Spanish fiestas, famous for their bullfights and notorious for their use of animals.
A compromise agreement with the village mayor ensured Butterfly was not hurled from the top of the church tower, as was the custom, but rather lowered the first 17 feet, before being dropped the last 33.
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