Chochołowska Valley. Dramatic scenes took place in the Chochołowska Valley. Tourists witnessed one of the horses fall down and hit the road. Despite this, the coachman after a few minutes harnessed him to the carriage again to continue his course.
The incident occurred on July 8, 2020. “It was very sultry that day and although the cabman claims that the horse stumbled – it is difficult to accept such a version as credible. Horses endure heat and humidity very badly. The author of the film also saw blood dripping from the nose of the animal” – quotes can be read on ratujkonie.pl . The case was publicized by the Viva! Foundation.
After a few minutes, the horse was again harnessed to the cab and probably had to continue the course. “Two adults with two small children rode in the cab. When the horse was lying down – they did not even dismount for a long time. This attitude saddens us twice – even such great suffering did not cause that they gave up comfort for the good of the animal. They probably went on …” – can be read on the Facebook profile of ratujkonie.pl.
Viva Foundation! protests
Horses in the Chochołowska Valley do not have such a difficult route as those from the route to Morskie Oko, but dangerous situations still happen. Viva Foundation has been protesting against the exploitation of horse work in the Tatras for years!
“We have been saying for years that the Tatras are not a place for horses. Even on such a potentially easy route and even with such a small load, compared to that from Morskie Oko, horses working in adverse Tatra conditions are subject to dramatic accidents, such as the one we have just learned from tourists wandering the Chochołowska Valley” – Anna Plaszczyk, from the Viva Foundation!
“Understanding the mechanism of thermoregulation and stopping work in conditions of high temperature and humidity is the only effective way to ensure the well-being of horses working in the Tatras. But the people have been ignoring this for years because profits are more important to them than the welfare of animals” – added Anna Plaszczyk.
What is your opinion on this? Have you ever been on a carriage drawn by horses – be it in the mountains or in a big city (like Krakow, for example)? Have you ever thought of the conditions the horses are kept?
Holidays began, more and more people in the mountains. Experienced tourists wander the trails, but also those who are just beginning their adventure with the mountains. They should remember that everything is not allowed in the mountains. There are prohibitions for which you can pay a penalty ticket. This will be issued to us by the Tatra National Park Guard. When breaking several bans, hiking in the mountains can be extremely expensive for us. See what not to do so that you don’t get a ticket.
Everyone who loves the mountains and has been to the mountains at least once in their life knows that this is rule number 1: DO NOT LEAVE THE TRAIL!
Same goes for Tatra Mountains: stick to the marked hiking trails and don’t go all brave and adventurous. Don’t show off on the mountain or else the mountain will fight back! The mountains are home to wild animals and you need to understand that and protect their homes! The Tatra National Park Guard (PL: Straż Tatrzańskiego Parku Narodowego) always pays attention so do not break the rules!
2. Don’t make loud noises!
Noises are not allowed in the mountains – no shouting, no loud singing, talking loud on the phone, or listening to music with speakers at high volume. This can bother other tourists but will also frighten away wild animals. Pay respect to nature! The deers and squirrels don’t go partying in your home – neither should you party in theirs!
3. No swimming in the lakes or rivers in the Tatra Mountains!
This ban is broken every year and many pay huge fines, so this rule makes the top 3 – we know it is hot outside and you wish to cool down, but use the shade of the trees and drink some water. Do not take a bath in the nearby stream or lake! You are disturbing the fragile ecosystem with your bodily odors! Besides that, if you are overheated and you jump in the cool water you might even get a thermal shock – and even die due to that!
4. Using drones in the Tatra mountains is forbidden!
Every year, there are people who want to take drones to take photos or films of the Tatra peaks. It is forbidden. Drones fly at low altitudes, make noise, and scare away the animals. This is not allowed, so if you wish to take photos and videos bring your own hand-held camera.
5. Do not open fire in the Tatra Mountains!
It is forbidden to create an open fire (smoke bonfires included) in the Tatra Mountains as – uncontrolled – it can quickly spread and pose a threat to the flora and fauna of the mountains.
6. Dogs are not allowed in the Tatra Mountains!
Dogs are not allowed in the Tatra National Park. People are not allowed to walk with their dogs, no matter how thoroughly trained they may be. We don’t know how our quadrupeds will react at heights. In addition, they can pose a threat to wild animals living in the Tatra Mountains.
7. Do not litter!
The Tatra Mountains have a ban on littering.
You must not leave garbage on or off the trails. There are no trash cans on the Tatra National Park. Therefore, there are rules in the mountains that what we bring to the trails, we bring back with us.
There are no trash cans because the packaging for food products attracts wild animals – e.g. bears. Romania has plenty of bears, for example, coming to the cities/towns near the forests, and eating away from the trash bins…
8. Do not pick mushrooms!
In the Tatra National Mountains it is prohibited to go on mushroom / blueberry picking trips. Collecting undergrowth is prohibited in the mountains. It is an area of strict protection, and therefore mushrooms are protected.
9. No night-travel in the Tatra Mountains!
From March 1 to November 30, it is forbidden to walk the trails at night. When we think of animals leading a night life, we usually imagine owls and bats. Meanwhile, the list of “nocturnal” species is very long. Among them are also those that we see during the day: most rodents, martens, stoats, weasels, shrews, hedgehogs, badgers, wolves, bears, wild boars, roe deer and deer. For “daytime” species, including the majority of passerine birds, the night is sometimes not only rest, but also increased vigilance due to natural hazards (high level of predation). In this situation, a particularly important task of the Park is to provide wild animals with the best possible protection against people disturbing their peace. In the early spring period, the issue of protection is even more important!
10. Scooter ban – as of June 2020
This is the latest ban that came into force in June 2020. The ban applies to the entire Tatra Mountains, although it actually comes down only to the road to Morskie Oko, where it would be possible to move on an electric scooter. According to the park, electric scooters on this route may pose a threat above all to others moving along this route.
So if you are planning on visiting the Tatra Mountains make sure you respect the 10 Tatra Mountain Commandments above, else you will get a fine! Respect the mountains, dress accordingly(comfortable and according to the temperature in the mountains – do some background check of the weather forecast), bring plenty of water (hydration is important), and have a great time!
Yours sincerly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug That Loves The Mountains
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