What began as a series of internal warnings that seemed destined to be forgotten has ended up transforming into a judicial and media scandal for one of the most visited theme parks in our country. Revelations about the handling of deceased animals, alleged clandestine burials, and the company's subsequent reaction have put the spotlight on the internal workings of Puy du Fou España.
The situation escalated rapidly until Ecologists in Action of Toledo decided to take the case to court. It's not just an administrative problem, but a... criminal complaint for animal abuse and damage to natural resources, seeking to clarify the events that occurred in the Toledo venue during the last few years.
A clandestine cemetery and irregular dealings
The core of the problem lies in the discovery of a illegal animal cemetery Located within the park's perimeter. According to testimonies from former employees, species such as goats, sheep, rabbits, geese, and ducks were buried in an elevated area near the staff entrance, completely disregarding current regulations that require these remains to be managed through specialized companies like SecAnim.
This practice, which allegedly occurred between 2021 and July 2025, represents a health and environmental risk This is considerable, as animal carcasses are hazardous byproducts that can contaminate the soil or transmit diseases if not disposed of properly. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the park may have manipulated the censuses, delaying the identification of the animals. hiding mortality real of the animals.
Faced with pressure, the management of Puy du Fou admitted that these irregularities occurred and proceeded to dismissal of three employees from the animal control department. However, Ecologists in Action maintains that this measure is simply a damage control strategy, since it would be blaming middle management while protecting those who gave the orders.
Accusations of mistreatment and neglect
Beyond the burials, the allegations are much deeper and more alarming. There has been talk of the so-called violent "correctives"These practices involved abusive beatings with whips that left marks on the animals' mouths, inflamed eyes, and even lameness. In other words, animal welfare appears to have been disregarded in favor of the spectacle.
Other testimonies indicate that some specimens were left to die without proper veterinary care or fed with spoiled feed. This lack of basic care is what has led the animal welfare organization to demand a thorough investigation into the degree of responsibility of all those involved, including the company's legal representatives.
Added to all this is the criticism of the regional administration of Castilla-La Mancha. Environmentalists denounce that the relevant departments have been more concerned with... to protect the company that for ensuring safety and ethics, even going so far as to request the dismissal of the Minister of Public Works, Ignacio Herrando, for dismissing the initial complaints.
Required measures and legal consequences
Given the seriousness of the events, the justice system has been asked to... immediate sealing of the cemetery and that the precautionary closure, either total or partial, of the theme park be considered until it can be guaranteed that the facilities are hygienically safe for visitors and the environment.
The Spanish Penal Code is quite clear in these cases. Article 340 bis provides for penalties of up to two years in prison for causing the death of domestic animals or animals under human control. Likewise, substantial damage to soil and water could carry similar penalties under Article 325, especially if the balance of natural systems is disrupted.
For its part, the park has promised to create a Animal Welfare Committee and improve their traceability systems to prevent this from happening again. However, for the whistleblowers, these measures come too late and only after the information has been made public, leaving unanswered the question of how many animals truly suffered in silence.
The resolution of this conflict now depends on the Courts of First Instance of Toledo, where it will be determined whether there was a cover-up plot and systematic mistreatment or if, as the company claims, these were isolated incidents committed by a few employees.