In
Anglo-Saxon countries it is regarded as a sport, perhaps due to
lack of knowledge.
It is, after all, banned throughout the UK and the
Commonwealth nations, as well as most of Europe. In countries
where bullfighting is allowed it is increasingly becoming
recognised as sheer barbarity. This savagery involves two
beautiful animals, bulls and horses. While the bulls are
guaranteed to die, the future of the horses is often no
brighter.
Bullfights take place in three European countries, France,
Portugal and Spain and in some parts of Latin America. In some
states of North America a form of bullfight is permitted but the
animal is covered with velcro and the spears used are imitation.
It's commonly believed that in Portuguese bullfights bulls or
horses don't suffer unlike the Spanish versions. This is
unfortunately a myth since the suffering is the same in both
bullfight styles.
The only difference is that in Spanish bullrings the bull is
killed in the ring instead of in the slaughterhouse when the
"entertainment" is over.
Every year more than 50,000 bulls are killed in bullfights in
Europe alone. Countless horses die or suffer severe injuries.
Bullfighters claim that bulls bred for bullfights are
aggressive and fearsome animals. This is also untrue. They fight
because they are fighting for their lives.
This photo was taken during a bullfight in Spain. The horse
was killed.
But bulls are not the only creatures to suffer in bullrings. The
tormented bull does not understand that it is the man on the
horse's back that is causing his pain, only that he is in agony.
He therefore sees the horse as his enemy as much as the man.
It's not unusual for horses used in bullfights to be so badly
gored by the bulls that they have to be killed, but only after
they have been dragged from the ring and the view of the
spectators.
Spanish bullfights also employ "picadors", men on horseback
armed with spears.
These horses are often gored even though they are protected
by what is termed a "peto", or a protective cape. These petos
often do little more than hide the horses wounds.
Scene from a Portuguese bullfight. |
The horses are blind-folded to prevent them from becoming terror
stricken at the charge of the bull. It is commonly believed that
their ears are stuffed with cottonwool to prevent them from
panicking and their vocal cords cut to stop them screaming with
fear at the bull's attack.
As little as 12 days ago in Madrid another horse was gored by
a bull and had to be killed.
This is the fate of these beautiful animals. To be used to
entertain a crowd that lusts for blood and claims that
bullfighting is a tradition and "cultural heritage".
What about the brave matadors, picadors and their ilk?
Bullfighters are rarely injured and seldom killed in the ring.
With their armoury of weapons to weaken the bull until it can no
longer fight, their lives are not at great risk. In fact, in the
last 50 years only 10 bullfighters have been killed worldwide.
Should you ever find yourself in a country where bullfighting
is practiced, please do not be tempted to attend one of these
sadistic displays. The continuation of bullfighting depends on
government subsidies and the tourist industry. Don't be an
accomplice to this savagery by supporting it with your dollars.
Further information:
Take a look at the
International Movement Against Bullfights website.
We suggest you read the "ongoing
campaigns" section.
26.6.06
