Croatian Lipizzaners Return Home

October 13, 2007 -- 60 Lipizzaner horses transferred from Croatia to the Bukinac stud farm in Serbia in 1991 were returned to their home late Friday. The horses headed back to Croatia after the Croatian Agricultural Ministry representatives and the owner of the farm in northern Serbia managed to reach a deal, ending a long dispute on the ownership of the herd and compensation for their care. The animals were transferred from Lipik in Croatia when war broke out in that country in 1991.

Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljeviæ told B92 that the Ministry was involved in all aspects of the affair, but did not interfere in the agreement between the Croatian officials and the farm’s owner, Todor Bukinac. “We have conducted veterinary checks together with our Croatian colleagues and handled the paperwork,” he said.

Milosavljeviæ and his Croatian counterpart agreed in August after meeting with Bukinac, that Lipizzaner horses would be returned to Croatia. The stud farm’s owner said at the time he would demand EUR 300,000 in compensation for looking after the animals. B92 reported on several occasions that the horses had been neglected and emaciated, while numerous animal rights groups called for urgent examination of their health. The chief of the State Veterinary Inspectorate, Sanja Eelebièanin, told B92 that the institution confirmed ahead of the transfer that “all horses were in good health.”