Last week in Spain, a Christmas market turned into a "slaughterhouse" when a donkey that was part of a nativity scene was accidentally killed by an obese man.
On Dec. 10, the 322-pound man climbed on the donkey, a 5-month-old named Platero, at the market in Lucena to pose for a picture. Just two days later, people in the town noticed that the donkey was not moving around much and could barely stand. Vets said they could not help the animal and it died the next day, according to The Independent.
The donkey spent three days "in agony" according to one activist group that is trying to have the use of animals in live nativity scenes banned. Police began their investigation after The Association for the Defence of Donkey and Lucena Animal Circle filed a police report against the man who climbed on the donkey.
The man posted the picture of himself riding the donkey on WhatsApp and called it a "great achievement."
Lucena Animal Circle's Facebook page has been active following the incident. The group shared the photo and explained the scenario regarding Platero's death.
"The nativity scene became a slaughterhouse...our Platero was literally squashed by a man whose photo was spread by WhatsApp users calling it a 'hazaña' (great achievement)," the post read. "The man climbed the fence and pushed Platero around until he could proudly pose 'galloping' with almost 150kg of weight on his fragile body...fatally injuring him."
El Mundo reported that if an animal expert rules the man caused the donkey's death, the groups may take legal action.
Two years ago at the same nativity scene a cane was stuck in an animal's eye, The Independent report.
