Police Intervene as Activists Block Morskie Oko Horse Carriages in Tatra National Park

Clashes on the trail

Animal welfare activists from the Lower Silesian Animal Protection Inspectorate (DIOZ) and the social movement Dla Zwierząt gathered on Saturday morning along the tourist route to Morskie Oko. Demonstrating under the slogan "Nie jeżdżę fasiągiem - dla koni z Morskiego Oka", about a dozen protesters sat on the asphalt to halt horse-drawn carriage traffic between Polana Włosienica and the mountain lake. Police officers surrounded the demonstrators around 10:00 am, issued dispersal orders, warned of court referrals, and subsequently removed them by force to clear the route. Following the intervention, DIOZ stated on social media that its president had been detained to prevent participation in the assembly.

Tatrzańskie służby nie tylko nie dostrzegają gehenny koni padających na trasie do Morskiego Oka, ale również nie dostrzegają potrzeby zapewnienia obywatelom konstytucyjnego prawa do bezpiecznego protestu i potrzeby zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa turystom poruszającym się po Tatrzański Park Narodowy

Highlander counter-protest

Local residents and highlanders from across the Podhale region assembled on the route to stage a counter-protest in defense of the coachmen. Drivers operating the carriages had previously appealed to law enforcement to ensure safety on the trail, citing concerns about potential attempts by demonstrators to frighten the working horses. The Tatra County head rejected calls by animal welfare groups to close the road, allowing horse carriages to continue ferrying tourists throughout Saturday under police protection. Supporters of the carriage drivers emphasized that the transport trade represents an integral element of Podhale identity, culture, and tradition, while serving as a source of livelihood for dozens of local families.

Activist proposals and prosecutor inquiry

During a meeting on Wednesday at the Tatra County office, DIOZ representatives announced plans to launch their own transport operations on the Morskie Oko route to challenge current rules and transition the corridor entirely to electric vehicles. The organization also called on the Tatra National Park (TPN) to buy out approximately 300 horses working the road and maintain them for life, suggesting the animals could graze on mountain pastures. DIOZ did not reply to questions from the Polish Press Agency regarding the factual basis for its claims of animal abuse and exhaustion. Meanwhile, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Świdnica is conducting an investigation into DIOZ based on numerous complaints across Poland, focusing on allegations of unlawful animal appropriation and the conditions under which seized animals are kept.

Veterinary data and upcoming route changes

Official records from annual veterinary and orthopedic screenings indicate that the vast majority of horses working the route remain in good physical condition. During this year's mandatory evaluations, only two out of 282 examined horses failed the fitness standards, while prior prosecutorial reviews and TPN records found no instances of horses collapsing or dying from physical exhaustion on the mountain road. The Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed that horse-drawn transport remains legal when animal welfare regulations are maintained, a stance backed by horse breeding researchers and the Polish Horse Breeders Association.

Starting on 1 September, a pilot transport agreement negotiated between the Tatra National Park, local government officials, coachmen, and the Ministry of Climate and Environment will shorten the carriage route from Palenica Białczańska to Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza. The revision reduces the operating distance by more than half while electric vehicles continue operating alongside the remaining horse carriages.