Franz Weber Foundation condemns dromedary use in Three Kings festivities

The Franz Weber Foundation has publicly criticized the participation of dromedaries in the Three Kings parades organized in Fuerteventura municipalities such as Puerto del Rosario, Tuineje and Pájara. The organization argues that the animals are used as “decorative objects” in a noisy environment, surrounded by costumes and sweets, and calls for a redesign of these events to eliminate the use of animals.

According to the foundation, the presence of camels in the celebrations creates a distorted image of the animals for young audiences and can lead to incidents, as has happened in other towns. It notes that animal‑free parades have become the norm across most of Spain and warns that continuing to use camels could damage the tourist image of the municipalities.

Response from Oasis Wildlife and the Canary Camel Breeders Association

Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura and the Asociación de Criadores de Camello Canario have repeatedly defended the practice. Their president, Guacimara Cabrera, stresses that the rides and activities with camels are regulated, supervised and meet high animal‑welfare standards.

“It is absolutely intolerable that a millionaire lobby like the Franz Weber Foundation, which has never shown the slightest intention to dialogue with sector professionals nor to understand the reality of our activity, attacks irresponsibly from its privileged position and detached from our reality,” Cabrera said in response to a previous statement from the foundation that condemned the use of camelids in tourist rides.

Cabrera adds that the activity supports more than 500 families in the Canary Islands and is essential to preserve a unique breed that is endangered, forming part of the islands’ cultural and economic heritage.

The association also points out that no legal complaints or convictions support the alleged mistreatment claims. It says that practices comply with welfare regulations, including veterinary care, mandatory rest periods and external inspections.

A national campaign against animal use in the Three Kings celebrations

The criticism in Fuerteventura is part of a broader national campaign by the Franz Weber Foundation. In recent days the organization has also denounced the use of camels in a school in Torreánaz (Cantabria) and in the Three Kings parades of Guadalajara, Ourense and Oviedo. In the Oviedo parade, an incident caused a several‑minute interruption of the procession.