Madrid Transhumance Festival reroutes livestock to avoid housing protests

Thousands of sheep and goats participated in the 33rd annual Transhumance Festival in Madrid on Sunday, drawing large crowds of residents and tourists. The herd, consisting of 1,250 sheep and 160 goats, moved through the city's historic center to celebrate the ancient practice of seasonal livestock migration.

This year, the traditional route was altered to bypass the Puerta del Sol, where activists have established a protest camp regarding the city's housing crisis. The protests intensified following the eviction and subsequent death of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal. Instead of the usual path, the livestock were guided through Plaza de la Villa and Plaza Mayor.

During the procession, authorities performed the symbolic tradition of paying '50 maravedís per thousand' animals, a custom dating back to a 1418 agreement. Beyond its cultural significance, organizers highlighted the environmental importance of transhumance, noting that traditional grazing helps manage vegetation and reduce the risk of wildfires.