A major scandal over animal cruelty has broken out in Bali.
The outcry began after foreign bloggers posted a video on Instagram filmed at the Tarukan Equestrian riding club in Pererenan. The footage showed an extremely emaciated white horse, leading social media users to suspect the owners of working it cruelly to give beach rides to tourists.
Once the video went viral, officers from the Municipal Police (Satpol PP) went to the site for an inspection together with veterinarians. But it was too late to save the animal — the horse had already died on September 16.
Officials stated that the horse was more than 30 years old and had not been used in the business for a long time. According to the head of the Badung Municipal Police, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, the rental operation had been stopped about two years earlier, although the animal was still being taken out to the shore for walks.
The head of Badung's Department of Agriculture and Food, Anak Agung Raka Sukadana, explains that several factors led to the horse's death:
“The horse that died was frightened by noise on the grounds, jumped, and broke its leg. The animal died from the injury, illness, and stress, as confirmed by a veterinarian.”
Raka Sukadana confirmed that the horse riding business in Pererenan has been officially closed and its operations have been halted entirely. The two remaining horses were moved to Tabanan Regency. Authorities stressed that if the owner decides to resume the business at a new location, he will have to strictly follow standards of animal care and veterinary supervision.
The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Bali province expressed regret over the incident but pointed out that horses are domesticated animals, so oversight of them falls to the Department of Agriculture. The management of Tarukan Equestrian declined to comment.
Sources: TribuneBali, detik
You can add one right now!