Animals
National Animal
The rooster“The love for a living creature is the most noble attribute of man”
Charles Darwin
Animals commonly seen in the wild
Marine fauna:
Bacalhau sardines, tunas, mullet, sea turtles, dolphins, whales.
Birds:
Quails, partridges, doves, pigeons, cuckoos, gulls, storks, herons, egrets.
Land mammals:
Wild goat, wild pig, deer, fox, rabbit, hare, bats.
Snakes and insects:
Geckos, lizards, chameleons, grass snakes, vipers.
Common sights you will not like
In the city and on the road
Stray dogs and cats can sometimes be seen but are not a common site. Picked up by the municipality and killed shortly after if unclaimed.
In theCountryside
Some dogs are used for hunting, they can be seen sometimes in unhealthy conditions and either in chains or in cages.
General animal welfare issues
The Protection of Animals Law was enacted in 1995. Sanctions are not explicitly stated in the law as Article 9 says that “The sanctions for the infringement of this law will be object of a special law.” In October 2014, the Portuguese penal code includes the mistreatment or abandonment of pet animals as a crime. However, critics are hoping for inclusion of all types of animals and not just pets in the penal code in the future.
Hunting or poaching:
Common animals hunted are red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, mouflons, wild boars, and birds such as pheasants and quails.
Animal fights:
Bull fights, known as “touradas” are legal in Portugal. In this Portuguese-style bullfight, the main bullfighter is riding on a horse as he fights the bull. Unlike Spanish bull fights, the bull is not killed in public, it is done by a professional butcher after the fights. However, there are reports on killing the bull or ox for the amusement of the audience. In 2018, the Portuguese government did not approve the bill to ban bull fights.
Main organization for animal rescue and sheltering:
Animal Rescue Algarve SOS Algarve Animals Gatos Livres Aanifeira Association
Sanctuaries to visit or volunteer:
N/A
We have not included the treatment of animals in the meat/fur/leather industries, zoos or circuses, animal testing as it unfortunately still happens in most countries.
