This Monday, April 29, in Argentina, Animal Day is commemorated in order to celebrate all the pets and species in the country as well as prevent the extinction of many of these. The date remembers the death of Ignacio Lucas Albarracín, one of the pioneers in the fight for animal rights in the country, who helped promote laws and raise people’s awareness about the abuse and exploitation they suffer daily.
Who was Ignacio Lucas Albarracín?
He was born on July 31, 1850 in Córdoba and graduated as a lawyer from the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the National University of Buenos Aires, in 1873. He was part of the work team of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, after his presidential term.
According to several websites, he began participating in political campaigns to fight for the rights of living beings, until he was named Secretary of the Argentine Society for the Protection of Animals (SAPA), founded in 1879 and in 1885 he presided over it.
One of his most relevant tasks were the actions to end cockfights, bullfights and pigeon shooting. Like many of his colleagues, he was a vegetarian and promoted this style of eating. Likewise, he began to question the tasks carried out in zoos and spoke out against animal shows, which took place mainly in circuses.
On July 25, 1891, he promoted the National Animal Protection Law (No. 2786), known as the Sarmiento Law.. This meant a transcendental event in the world, since many international organizations such as the UN and different countries took it as an example in their fight against animal abuse.
In 1907 Albarracín proposed to Ponciano Vivanco, president of the National Council of Education, to dedicate a day to the celebration of animals. The initial date was April 29, but it was moved to May 2. The day held an official ceremony at the Buenos Aires Zoo, with the special participation of Figueroa Alcorta, the then president of Argentina, ministers and more than 15 thousand students. During the following years, the anniversary was carried out on its initial date.
Albarracín died on April 29, 1926, at the age of 75, due to cardiac arrest, a day that coincides with Animal Day. His work is remembered today and inspired countries around the world to incorporate laws that fight for the protection of all living beings.
Around the world, International Animal Day is celebrated on October 4, in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Catholic saint who donated his wealth and dedicated his life to the service of those who needed it most, a group that included animals. .
