Bullfighting: Fine Art or Animal Cruelty?

Bullfighting has had criticism around the sport for many years with some people considering bullfighting a cultural expression and art; others see bullfighting as a barbaric sport and injustice to animals. Bullfighting is one of Spain’s oldest traditional spectacles in which one or more bulls are baited by a Matador whom eventually kills the bull in a bullring for sport and entertainment. It’s presented as contest between the brave matadors who risks his life against a ferocious beast. As such, it is often called a blood sport by its critics, but followers of the spectacle regard it as a fine art and not a sport since there isn't any competition between Matadors.

Although Bullfighting was considered one of the countries most popular sports, it’s not unusual to see stands petitioning against theses festivals in Spain. Usually these people are either petitioning against bullfights whiles others who are against all festivals involving bulls. Recently citizens of Catalonia region in Spain voted in favour of banning bullfighting and held the last event in Barcelona in front of a sold out crowd.

I believe bull fighting should be banned primarily due to the pre fight treatments bulls receive. Before entering the bullring, the bull spends 24 hours in the dark, so that when it goes out to the bullring, it is puzzled by the light and the spectator’s shouts. It is also receives various products to weaken it as well as putting fat into the bulls eyes to make sight difficult. This is definitely in humane since bulls are not usually aggressive but due to the torture the bull has received, they become aggressive. Lastly, once the bull is exhausted, the matador signals a final act which he kills the bull slowly lasting approximately six minutes.

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In recent years, there has been heavy press interest around bullfighting and fiestas involving animal abuse. It is slowly becoming a worldwide concern and has put the Spanish government under extreme pressure to change their laws, mainly against the pre fight treatment of bulls.