Colombians participated Sunday in the fourth annual International March against Animal Abuse in Bogota, Cali, Pereira, Pasto, Bucaramanga, and Barranquilla.
Spanish news agency Efe verified that at least five hundred people, including staff from animal protection agencies and individuals with their pets, gathered in the Colombian capital for the march.
Among participants were members of the national police force, Civil Defense Brigade, Franciscans of the Catholic Church, and the Hare Krishna community.
Albeiro Ulloa, from the coordinating committee for the event, told Efe that the movement had a lot of support in other Colombian cities as well.
Event promoters and participants hoped that the march will urge Congress to implement a law that protects animals in Colombia and “eliminates the exceptions of cock fights and bull fights.”
Eduardo Peña Garzon, representative of Animal Defenders International (ADI), said he believed that there will soon be initiatives in place to penalize the use of animals in circus’ and animal abuse, as long as “it is solidified with laws passed by Congress and the Executive office.”
The event in the capital was assisted by Leonardo Anselmi, spokesperson for the movement for the prohibition of bull fights in Catalonia, Spain, which was successful in gaining support from Parliament. Ulloa declared the presence of Anselmi supports the initiative and encourages to fight to achieve a similar prohibition in Colombia.
The International March Against Animal Cruelty first emerged in Colombia and has since been adopted by countries such as Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and France, stated Ulloa. However, “in Asia and Africa there isn’t any similar initiative,” he concluded.