September 14, 2009

LAS VEGAS - “Fiestas Patrias,” the first in a series of 2009 Las Vegas bloodless bullfights, is scheduled to take place today at the South Point Equestrian Complex & Arena amid protest from national and international animal protection organizations. Concerned over the stress and injuries incurred by the bulls as well as the event’s general promotion of bullfighting as a sport, The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and CAS International are among the groups protesting the fights hosted by The South Point Hotel & Casino and Don Bull Productions.

Instead of traditional pointed banderillas, matadors in bloodless bullfights “spear” the bull with lances that attach to the animal using Velcro adhesive. Although promoters claim that this technique does not cause any injury to the animals, the act of pitting man against animal inherently causes stress and panic which in turn makes injury more likely.

“These animals are being exploited even if they are not killed in the ring. This sort of practice desensitizes people to animal cruelty, and what few people know is that after the fight most bulls end up at slaughterhouses,” said Sharanya Krishna Prasad, WSPA programs officer.

Concern over the welfare of the animals is heightened over recent animal cruelty investigations in Los Angeles that uncovered the use of sharpened nails at bloodless bullfights during a Festa da Bola celebration in Artesia, California. The nails had been carefully covered and disguised with festive materials to make them look harmless and were fastened to the end of the banderillas to stab and enrage the bulls and resulted in puncture wounds on the animals. Bloodless bullfights remain popular in California where the state has banned the practice except when held in connection with religious events. Florida is the only state to completely outlaw bloodless bullfights.

“The bullfighting industry is losing ground in the traditional bullfighting countries like Spain and Mexico. However, promoters continue their blood sport by exporting it to other countries under the guise of ‘bloodless bullfights,’ which perpetuates the suffering of bulls and horses,” said Saskia Oskam, public relations officer for CAS International. “When tourists visit a bloodless bullfight, they preserve this horrible industry. We urge tourists never to visit any event where animals are abused.”

In the months leading up to the fights, WSPA and CAS International have sent letters of protest to the South Point Arena, Clark County and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority asking that the fights be canceled but have received no response. Annually, more than 250,000 bulls and hundreds of horses are maimed and/or killed during traditional bullfights and similar events in Europe and Latin America. WSPA and CAS International believe that bloodless bullfights in the United States only serve to perpetuate the acceptability of a cruel and dangerous custom.

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Media Contacts:

Meryl Bailey
Communications Officer
The World Society for the Protection of Animals
Tel: 1-617-896-9291
Mobile: 1-703-201-0591
E-mail: mbailey@wspausa.org

Saskia Oskam
Public Relations Officer
CAS International (Comité Anti Stierenvechten)
Tel: +31-30-2300093
Mobile: +31-6-46373805
E-mail: saskia@cas-international.org

The World Society for the Protection of Animals is a leading global animal welfare organization committed to ending animal cruelty and elevating animal welfare standards worldwide.  Through partnership with more than 1,000 organizations spanning over 150 countries, WSPA has built the world’s largest alliance dedicated to alleviating animal suffering. Through its innovative, science-based advocacy, public education and emergency assistance programs, WSPA is providing lasting solutions to the world’s most pressing animal welfare concerns. www.wspa-usa.org

CAS International (Comité Anti Stierenvechten) is the biggest organization in the world which works exclusively on the abolition of bullfighting and cruel fiestas (festivals) during which bulls and other animals are tortured. Together with our colleague organizations, we want to end this animal abuse as soon as possible. www.cas-international.org