The calf-fights involve bulls no older than one year old, and no bigger than a mastiff dog, being slaughtered in extremely painful and degrading ways purely for entertainment.
LUCY CONNOLLY: ‘Academies which train youngsters to kill calves are common practice in Spain, although support for bullfighting in the country is diminishing as calls for the practice to end increase. Despite this, one school in Colmenar Viejo doubled down on the disturbing practice recently, defying the mounting wave of outrage against it by having two dozen of the helpless animals killed by its students over a period of four days…
The calf-fights, known in Spain as becerradas, involve bulls no older than one year old – and no bigger than a mastiff – being slaughtered in extremely painful and degrading ways purely for entertainment. These fights are considered ‘practical classes’ by the bullfighting academies, of which there are approximately 50 across Spain; 24 operate in the region of Andalusia alone…
Footage captured by activists from animal welfare charities show a number of teenagers slaughtering the calves in front of a small audience. Although the audience is only small, children can clearly be seen among those watching – with one boy seen recording everything on a tablet he is holding above his head.
Later on, when the calves have been slaughtered, some of the younger children are presented with ears carved from the dying animals as a trophy of the kills. A spokesperson for Animal Guardians said although the exact ages of the would-be matadors could not be determined, some people start training in bullfighting rings as young as 14…
Now, animal rights activists are launching an international petition to ensure calf-fights are banned from the country for good. Carmen Ibarlucea, president of La Tortura No Es Cultura (Torture is not Culture), said:It is inconceivable that these acts of extreme violence towards sentient beings can be considered a form of entertainment. They are an atrocity and should be banned. We ask people to sign our petition and write to the city council of Colmenar Viejo asking for the end of these spectacles’. SOURCE…
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