World Society for the Protection of Animals
International Contact FAQ Search
What we do Home What we do Wildlife Bullfighting
Universal Declaration
Companion Animals
Wildlife
Bear Farming
Bear Baiting
Dancing Bears
Bullfighting
Oppose Cruel Bullfighting
Japan's bear parks
The bushmeat trade
Sanctuaries
Releases
Orangutans
Marine Mammals
Farm Animal Welfare
Disaster Relief
Education
USA Member Societies
United Nations Affairs

Bullfighting

Bullfighting is a cruel sport that pits a bull against men who wield a variety of lethal weapons.

WSPA is working with Spanish member society, ADDA, to end this cruel ‘sport' in the region of Catalonia, northern Spain.

So far, over 500,000 petitions have been collected in support of the ban

Get involved with WSPA - sign our petition and help end bullfighting >>


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 April 2004

The future for bullfights in Catalonia

The next and crucial stage of this campaign is securing a ban on bullfighting in the entire region of Catalonia. Such a ban would be a landmark victory for the entire anti-bullfight movement and would relegate this cruel ‘sport' to the past once and for all.

Please donate to help end bullfighting and other cruel activities >>

View Printer Friendly VersionE-Mail this Page
 






Testimonials
 
"I like what WSPA does internationally. The way the world is now, animals of all kinds --- wildlife, farm animals, companion animals and working animals --- need all the help we can give them. People can make choices but animals are the innocent victims. I’m just glad that I’m able to provide the resources to help give some animals a better life."
 
V. Starr Hutchison
WSPA Supporter


©2009 World Society for the Protection of Animals
Developed by Synthenet Corporation

Site Map | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Job Opportunities