The ferry had arrived from Barcelona. There were 36 dogs in all, just nine of them alive. A dozen hunters from Mallorca had been in Lithuania, where dogs are given specialised training for the hunting of woodcocks. The Council of Mallorca’s website explains that this wading bird arrives in the Balearics in the autumn and winter and is “highly coveted by hunters”.

Seprona officers are now awaiting the results of necropsies to show the exact cause of death of the dogs.

It is understood that the hunters notified the ferry company of the deaths and that the company then contacted the Guardia Civil.