A group of Spanish local shepherds stunned tourists and motorists recently by guiding 2,000 sheep through a street in Madrid in observation of an age-long tradition.
Many people were wowed when a group of Spanish Shepherds led about 2,000 sheep through the busy streets of Madrid in defense and observation of age-old droving, grazing and migration rights that are increasingly threatened by urban sprawl and fenced-in pastures.
The shepherds achieved this amazing feat with the help of sheepdogs. Tourists and children were surprised to see wide avenues blocked off in the Spanish capital to let the woolly parade — bleating loudly and clanking bells — cross the city, accompanied by sheepdogs.
A Government agriculture spokesman, Carlos Cabanas, says the tradition is essential to "maintain native breeds that are in danger of extinction."
Shepherds have held the right since at least 1273 to use droving routes across land that used to be open fields before Madrid became a sprawling metropolis. A shepherd handed over 150 maravedies — coins minted in the 11th century — to city officials for the crossing.