Animal Liberation Malta activists today called for a ban on karozzini (horse-drawn carriages) in a protest in Valletta.

The protest started from The Mall Floriana all the way to Castille Square in Valletta with the activists chanting “Din Mohqrija – Mhux tradizzjoni” and “You ride – they die”.

They walked they passed two cabby points one neat the Triton Fountain and one at Castille Square. At Castille Square the activists formed the word BAN! on the stairs of Auberge de Castille.

Animal Liberation Malta is in principle against karozzini, especially since we believe that in a fully motorised world there is no need or function for them. Karozzini today only serve as a tourist attraction. There is a global move against horse drawn carriages with more and more cities around the world taking the step to banning this cruel practice.

Notable names are Montreal (Canada), Barcelona, Prague, Melbourne, Chicago, Salt Lake City and Palma de Mallorca. The Spanish city council of Palma de Mallorca, also a Mediterranean island heavily dependent on tourism, announced a ban on horse draw carriages that will come into effect in 2024. Their intention is that all horse drawn carriages will be replaced with electric carriages. We believe that the transition to electric would be an ideal solution for Malta.

In fact, part of our recommendations is that Transport Malta should issue a special grant for cabby drivers for them to go electric. Haroon Ali from Animal Liberation Malta said during the event that “apart from the transition to electrification, we also propose that no new licences for cabby drivers should be issued. Furthermore, a grandfather clause should be triggered whereby existing horses will be allowed to continue working, yet upon retiring the cabby owner cannot replace the horse with a new horse but rather go to an electric option.”

Additionally Animal Liberation Malta suggests that all other horse drawn carriages even horse drawn hearses should be banned since there are adequate alternatives.