Bullfighting

Bullfighting or tauromachy (Spanish toreo, corrida de toros or tauromaquia; Portuguese tourada, corrida de touros or tauromaquia) is a sport that involves, most of the time, professional performers (generally called in Spanish toreros or matadores) who execute various formal moves with the goal of appearing graceful and confident, while masterful over the bull itself; these maneuvers are performed at close range, concluding (in Spanish-style bullfighting) with the death of the bull by a well-placed sword thrust as the finale.

Criticisms of bullfighting

Bullfighting has for many years been a controversial activity; it is widely reviled outside Spain (and increasingly within it) as a gratuitously cruel blood sport. Animal rights campaigners object strongly to bullfighting because they think that the killing of an animal should not be abused for entertainment. Some also think that the bull suffers a slow, painful death. Bullfighting is banned in many countries; people taking part in such activity would be liable for terms of imprisonment for animal cruelty. "Bloodless" variations, though, are permitted and have attracted a following in California. A number of animal-rights activist groups undertake anti-bullfighting actions in Spain and other countries. In Spanish, opposition to bullfighting is referred to (somewhat inaccurately) as taurofobia.

Related Topics:
Blood sport - Animal rights - Animal cruelty - California

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English-speaking critics often confuse the tauromachia with the coarse entertainment of "bull-baiting" formerly popular in Britain, in which packs of specially-bred bulldogs were loosed upon a bull confined within a ring or even tethered to a stake. Bull-baiting was a rustic and lower-class entertainment until the 1830s, when increased sensitivity to animal suffering made it objectionable to the governing classes and it was outlawed.

Related Topics:
Bull-baiting - Bulldog

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Some separatists despise bullfighting because of its association with the Spanish nation. Recently Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia was declared an anti-bullfighting town. However, even a former Basque Batasuna leader was a novillero before becoming a politician.

Related Topics:
Barcelona - Catalonia - Basque - Batasuna

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Critics of bullfights charge that, in addition to the treatment meted out to the bull in the ring, it is often mistreated in other ways immediately before the contest — for instance:

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• Petroleum jelly is put in the bull's eyes to weaken its sight.
• The horns are filed down to remove the bull's ability to aim properly. Sometimes called barbering.
• Heavy sacks are dropped on the bull's kidneys to make it wilder.
• Sometimes, the bull is tranquilized.

However, these views are not widely supported in the countries where Spanish-style bullfighting is practiced; the argument is that bulls are bred for the ring and live well before they are killed, living much better and freer than meat cattle.

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Furthermore, part of the artistic impression of a corrida is based on the "cleanliness" of the kill; prolonged suffering is regarded as part of a very poor performance, and experienced bullfighters are able to avoid it. The highest form of Airs above Ground (the Lippizaner dancing) is bullfighting, to use all the high precision movements learnt in the school to evade the bull and have its rider spear it is the most dangerous and difficult move of all. Abuses to the bull that make it less apt to fight are regarded by many aficionados as scandalous.

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Economic reasons also may prevent mistreatment. Bull breeders invest their money in growing up the bulls and their financial stability depends on their bulls performance. If bulls are mistreated it will be obvious for the bullfight public plus the bull's conduct will be harmed probably making it weaker, more distractable, etc. The bull's attitude is essential for the correct ongoing of the bullfight.

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It's important to remark that breeders try to assist in most of the events where their bulls will be killed, and are the first to complain if they notice they have been harmed in any way previous to the bullfight.

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It is notable that Spanish laws against cruelty to animals have abolished most of the spectacles with animals while including specific exceptions for bullfighting.

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