Ecologistas en Acciones in Granada sent in a press release concerning a project to raise 7,000 mink in Padul for their pelts. Their carcasses will be used as animal feed.

The complaint of the ecologist concerning the proposed farm, which would be located near Puntal, is two fold: A) breeding these animals for their pelts is unethical as substitute fur exists, B) the location is only 300 metres from the natural park of Sierra Nevada and should some or many of the mink escape, it would have disastrous affects on the ecosystem, they consider, as these are American Minks, which are renown for their aggressive character.

Padul, like Motril, is the location of a large waterfowl reserve (humedal or wetland) so should there be a mass escape the wetlands would be devastated with a short time.

Further, under Spanish law, (Real Decreto 1628/2011) exotic, invasive animals have to be listed and to farm such creatures requires fully justified motives.

For all of the above reasons, Ecologistas en Accion has requested that the Ministry of the Environment refuse to grant authorization.

(News: Padul, Valle de Lecrin, Granada, Andalucia)