A pony was transported in the boot of a small Citroën C1 during a ferry trip from Pozzuoli to Ischia on July 5. The incident, captured by a Swiss tourist, has led to accusations of animal cruelty and calls for a police investigation into the owner and the ferry operator.
A Citroën C1 and a 31°C crossing to Ischia
On July 5, a Swiss tourist documented a pony confined to the boot of a red Citroën C1 during a ferry voyage from Pozzuoli, near Naples, to the island of Ischia. According to the report, the animal was shuffling in a cramped space where its head was forced down by the roof and its rump pressed against the rear windscreen. The temperature in Pozzuoli had reached 31°C, adding significant heat stress to the animal's confinement during the hour-long crossing.
The footage shows the pony filling almost the entire interior of the vehicle, leaving virtually no room for movement. The physical constraints of the Citroën C1,a city car not designed for livestock, meant the animal was effectively pinned against the glass and the ceiling for the duration of the trip.
Medmar Navi Spa's failure to alert the Carabinieri
The ferry operator, Medmar Navi Spa, is facing intense scrutiny after onboard staff reportedly told the Swiss witness they were "already aware of the animal's presence." Despite this knowledge, the ferry company did not intervene or notify the authorities. Animal rights activist Enrico Rizzi, who shared the footage online , questioned how the vehicle was allowed to load without any employee of Medmar Navi Spa stopping the journey.
Rizzi has since reported the case to police in Pozzuoli, calling for a probe into both the driver and the staff who permitted the animal to travel. He described the act as inhumane, questioning why the journey was allowed to proceed given that such treatment of an animal constitutes a crime under Italian law.
MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli's demand for animal seizure
The incident has escalated to the political level, with MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli calling for the immediate identification of the animal's owner. As the source reported, Borrelli has urged that the pony be taken away from its owner to protect its well-being. This demand underscores the severity of the alleged cruelty, suggesting that the owner's judgment is fundamentally compromised.
The dangers of hour-long transits in passenger boots
This case echoes a broader tension in Mediterranean transit where livestock are occasionally moved using improvised and inhumane methods to avoid the costs or regulations of official transport. The use of a passenger vehicle like a Citroën C1 for a large animal is a severe welfare violation. The risk of hyperthermia in 31°C heat makes such "convenience" transports potentially lethal, reflecting a disregard for biological needs in favor of avoiding official livestock transport protocols.
The identity of the red Citroën's driver
Several critical details remain unverified, most notably the identity of the driver who operated the red Citroën. it is also unclear why Medmar Navi Spa staff felt the situation did not warrant a call to the Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy. While the report notes that Medmar group was approached for comment, their official stance on the staff's inaction remains unknown.
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