A pony was spotted crammed into the back of a tiny red Citroën C1 during a one-hour ferry crossing from the Italian island of Pozzuoli, near Naples, to the island of Ischia, leaving tourists stunned.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on July 5 when temperatures reached 31°C on Pozzuoli. The light brown pony was forced down with its head pushed down and its rear pressed against the windscreen of the vehicle.
A Swiss tourist who captured the footage said she alerted onboard staff and was told they were already aware of the animal's presence.
Outrage from Animal Rights Campaigners
Animal rights activist Enrico Rizzi expressed outrage, stating: "How is it possible that nobody stopped that vehicle before it was loaded onto the ferry? Is it possible that no employee of the ferry company Medmar Navi Spa saw a pony crammed inside a small car? Is it possible that nobody thought it necessary to call the Carabinieri? And, if staff really were already aware of the animal's presence, why was the journey allowed to go ahead anyway, given that we are dealing with a crime?"
Rizzi reported the case to authorities in Pozzuoli and called for the driver to be investigated for animal cruelty. He wrote: "Only a monster could behave in such an inhumane way towards an animal."
Social Media and Political Reaction
Social media users also condemned the act, with one commenter writing: "I wonder who that a**hole is who drove the car onto the ferry."
Italian MP Francesco Emilio Borrell has called for the owner of the animal to be identified and for the pony to be removed from their care to protect its well-being.
