As the number of visitors to bullfights falls, Spain’s politicians are considering a new law to sustain the cruel spectacles by declaring them cultural heritage, a move that would ensure additional public funds are spent on promoting and protecting the bloodsport across the country.

We’ve teamed up with other UK and international organisations, including the League Against Cruel Sports, PETA UK, the World Society for the Protection of Animals and CAS International, to raise awareness of the cruelty involved and to work with Spanish organisations, including La Tortura no es Cultura Platform, who are opposed to bullfighting and their government’s backing of it.

Our “Love Spain, Hate Bullfighting” campaign is gathering support from compassionate citizens all around the world.

Join us in speaking out against this terrible cruelty:
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Political discussions

The proposed legislation is now progressing through the Spanish parliament. Once the Culture Committee has discussed the details, the draft law will be debated and voted on. If approved, it could bring into question legislation approved by autonomous communities in Spain, such as the established ban on bullfighting in Catalonia (agreed in 2010).

Neither culture nor entertainment justify suffering

According to ex-matador D. Alvaro Múnera, bullfighting is “a cruel tradition, where the victim first off is innocent and where it is savagely tortured and massacred… it is ethically inconceivable.”

The torment and death of animals for amusement can never be acceptable and in the 21st century wanton animal cruelty can no longer hide behind cultural excuses. Bullfighting is brutal and outdated, and has no place in a modern society.

A declining industry

A recently commissioned opinion poll showed that 76 per cent of Spanish citizens are opposed to the use of public funds to support bullfighting and only 29 per cent support the practice. Just 13 percent support it “strongly.”

According to the country’s Culture Ministry, the annual attendance figure at bullfights is just 8.5 per cent of the population [1]. The number of bullfights held between 2007 and 2011 dropped from 3,650 a year to 2,290, a figure that is thought to have decreased further during 2012.

Learn more about the bullfighting issue.

1. Survey of Cultural Habits and Practices in Spain 2010-2011.