Why are bullfights cruel?
Most bullfights last for about 15 minutes, with a series of deliberately vicious stages. The bull is taunted and stabbed with a variety of spears, barbed spikes and daggers. These weapons are designed to inflict intense pain and cause blood loss to weaken the animal. After this period of suffering, the Matador finally kills the exhausted and dying bull. Many bulls die drowning in their own blood because the Matador’s inaccuracy often pierces their lungs instead of the heart. Following this, a short dagger, or ‘puntilla’, is used to sever its spinal cord at the neck before the bull is dragged out of the arena, sometimes still alive. Achievements to date • January 2007 – the last bullring in Barcelona, Spain, is due to close from lack of public interest. • June 2005 – The towns of Lloret de May and Girona closed their bullrings • April 2005 – Bill to ban bullfighting proposed in Catalan Parliament in April 2005 • April 2004 – Barcelona City Council declares its ‘anti-bullfight’ stance in
