A 'therian' gathering in Lleida's Mitjana park ends with crowds of curious onlookers

Dozens of teenagers gathered in the local park to search for individuals who spiritually identify as non-human animals.

Generic image of a natural park at night with flashlight beams among the trees.
IA

Generic image of a natural park at night with flashlight beams among the trees.

The Mitjana park in Lleida was the setting this Sunday for a therian community gathering that ultimately only managed to attract dozens of curious teenagers without the official meeting taking place.

Attendees searched the various paths of the Lleida nature reserve using their mobile phone flashlights to try and locate members of the group. Despite the social media hype, the search was unsuccessful, and no formal meeting occurred with individuals who identify with this movement.
The therian phenomenon describes people who feel a deep psychological or spiritual connection with a non-human animal. While the movement originated in the 1990s, it has recently seen a global surge in popularity due to social media platforms.
The event in the capital of Segrià was not an isolated case. Similar gatherings were organized in other cities like Barcelona over the weekend, which reportedly also failed to result in a significant turnout of actual community members.