La caza de liebres con galgos en Andalucía: Desde el conflicto a la patrimonialización

Hare coursing with greyhounds in Andalusia is a modality of small game hunting without firearms that is deeply rooted in the region. The group of Andalusian greyhound hunters, which currently numbers around six thousand participants, understands that their practices are in a situation of vulnerability, mainly due, among others, to the criticism and discourse coming from other sectors of the population which question and denounce the use and treatment offered to the animals involved in this hunting modality. This perceived conflict has been one of the reasons why it has promoted the drafting of a technical report for the registration of the activity in the Atlas of the Intangible Heritage of Andalusia. This would entail the recognition, but not the declaration, of the activity as intangible and living cultural heritage in this territory. This article presents, based on the results of the fieldwork carried out for the preparation of this report, the main ethnological values detected for hare coursing with greyhounds in Andalusia. On this basis, the text reflects on how the conflict can become a catalyst for heritage processes, while at the same time certain ethical and moral problems arise with the activities and practices that are to be protected and in which animals are used.