Veliki Pažut poultry megafarm begins trial operations amid protests

A poultry megafarm in Veliki Pažut, Croatia, has commenced trial operations despite ongoing local protests and environmental concerns. The Animal Friends Association released footage from the facility to highlight the risks associated with large-scale intensive farming.

Critics point to the facility's extreme proximity to protected areas, including the Mura-Drava Regional Park, Natura 2000 sites, and the Veliki Pažut Ornithological Reserve, which is part of a UNESCO-protected zone. Residents have already reported unpleasant odors emanating from the site.

Plans for the area include over 20 major developments, such as slaughterhouses and processing plants, with a projected total capacity exceeding 200 million chickens annually. Luka Oman, president of the Animal Friends Association, criticized the living conditions within such farms, describing them as dark environments where animals suffer from extreme overcrowding and physical ailments.