Spain's Civil Guard's Nature Protection Service (Seprona) located 10 of 27 stolen roosters belonging to the Fernández family, a gypsy clan from Valladolid, in an industrial estate in Soria. After verifying their legal origin, the authorities returned the birds to their owners, according to El País. Despite the recovery, two of the returned roosters died, leaving the family distressed and determined to find the remaining missing birds.
The Fernández family, also known as the Valladolid clan, became a viral sensation after videos circulated showing them denouncing the theft of their roosters, allegedly stolen from their henhouse. In the first video, Arturo, a member of the clan wearing a red jacket, announced: "Gentlemen, last night they entered and stole my roosters," according to El Confidencial. Surrounded by family members, they issued a polite request for the return of their animals but warned that if the roosters did not reappear within 24 hours, the thieves would have to leave Valladolid for life. "They have already appeared, but someone will have to pay for this," the family later stated, according to El Confidencial.
When the promised return of the roosters did not occur, the clan released a second video with a harsher tone. Filled with insults and threats directed at the thieves, the video quickly went viral. "Let them make broth with the bones of their dead," declared one member, according to 20 Minutos. The passionate and colorful language used in the videos captivated social media users across Spain.
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The videos sparked a wave of reactions online. Thousands of users shared memes and comments, turning the family's outcry into a national phenomenon. "It is the best of the month," said the renowned writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte, referring to the situation as "Spanish Gomorrah," according to 20 Minutos. Social media platforms were abuzz with users both supporting the family's plight and critiquing their approach. "They are the Peaky Blinders of Valladolid. Thanks for this great story," one user quipped, while another suggested, "Let someone write the song of the roosters for Eurovision, it could be a hit," according to 20 Minutos.
Amidst the social media storm, the family emphasized that their roosters were not bred for fighting. Willy Fernández, a member of the clan and a rooster breeder, clarified that they raise the birds for exhibitions, focusing on the aesthetic qualities of the Spanish Fighter breed. He stated, "Our roosters are for exhibition, for plumage. We raise them for a person, and that person exhibits them; we are the breeders," according to El Confidencial. The clan denied allegations that the roosters were used in illegal fights, a speculation that had arisen on social media.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.