Horror at Palma Port: 27 Dogs Dead After Ferry Crossing — What Went Wrong?

Shock at the quay: Early discovery, many questions

While mist still hung over the Moll de la Riba and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the awnings, commuters and dock workers discovered something early on Saturday morning that no one here will forget soon: In a van that came off the ferry from Barcelona, numerous dogs lay motionless on top of each other. Authorities later confirmed the terrible figure: 27 Hunting Dogs Dead in Palma: How Could It Have Come to This? — 27 of 36 animals were dead, only nine survived the crossing.

Who were the animals and how did they get here?

People in wet jackets, gloves and trembling voices stood on the quay. According to eyewitnesses, the dogs apparently belonged to a group of hunters who were said to have been in Eastern Europe days earlier to train the animals. A man, his fingers gripping his jacket, whispered: 'My bitch was like a family member.' The scene felt surreal — the calls of seagulls mixed with the distant thud of ferries, and a dock worker nervously lit a cigarette.

The investigations: Seprona takes over

The Guardia Civil's nature protection unit (Seprona) immediately took over the investigations. Postmortems are planned to rule out or confirm causes such as heatstroke, lack of oxygen or poisoning. Investigators are also examining the vehicle's ventilation, how the animals were housed during the crossing and any errors in loading them onto the ferry. According to witnesses, the shipping company is cooperating with authorities, but questions remain about how long the dogs spent in the van and whether they had access to water, an issue highlighted in Palma: 27 hunting dogs dead in cargo hold — why inspections are failing.

The central question: Failure of technology, people or the system?

At its core is a guiding question that goes far beyond this single van: Was this an accident caused by technical or organizational shortcomings — or did a system fail that is supposed to regulate cross-border animal transports? It is not only about the individual responsibility of the owners. Procedures on board the ferry, information duties and the port's control mechanisms are now also in focus. Were temperature and CO2 levels monitored on the vehicle deck? Were there emergency plans, and were they applied?

Aspects that have so far received too little attention

Amid the justified outrage over the mass deaths, it is often overlooked that such transports touch complex chains: from the approval of the transport vehicle to animal documentation to the responsibilities of the shipping company, crew and port authorities. Little noticed is also the role of short intermediate stops — a vehicle that remains for hours in a poorly ventilated vehicle bay of a ferry can become a deadly trap even at moderate outside temperatures. And: How well are drivers and accompanying persons prepared for animal medical emergencies?

Concrete measures that make sense now

What practical changes would help prevent a recurrence? First: mandatory inspections before opening vehicles carrying animals — temperature, humidity and CO2 sensors as well as cameras on vehicles should become standard. Second: clear documentation of feeding, water provision and durations on board. Third: training for carriers and crews on animal behavior and the dangers animals face in closed vehicles. Fourth: emergency access for port or ship personnel and Spanish Ministry of Agriculture animal health services at larger ports like Palma.

Legal and societal questions

Criminal and administrative follow-up is important, but a political debate is also needed: Do we want to facilitate transport of large groups of animals over long distances without tightening controls? Mallorca's everyday life, from the cafes at the harbour to the fishing boats in the morning mist, shows that decisions from European Commission animal welfare rules or Madrid directly affect people and animals here. Perhaps this sad incident is an occasion to clarify rules and strengthen local checkpoints.

What must happen now — and what you can do

The postmortem results will provide further clarity in the coming days. Until then, authorities ask witnesses who observed anything unusual during the crossing to come forward. And shipping companies should be proactively transparent: release logbooks, ventilation protocols and communication with the owners. For the port community, the task is to organise morning operations so such emergencies are detected earlier — an additional inspector on the quay, faster reporting systems and sensor-based alerts could help.

In Palma, grief these days sits between the tables of the harbour cafés. The investigations are ongoing — but the question of blame is no longer enough. It is about prevention, clear rules and the protection of the living beings we transport. Mallorca can and must become more sensitive here.