Spain’s Balearic Islands Imposes New Law Prohibiting Harm & Killing Of Bulls For Bullfighting

Loop News

While the decision in Spain’s Balearic Islands yesterday to approve a strict new law prohibiting the harm and killing of bulls in the bullring is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, many issues still remain.

Sadly, bulls are still being exploited for human entertainment. Conservatives are expected to challenge the new legislation that makes bullfighting shorter and less harmful on the grounds that it violates the constitutional protection of cultural heritage.

The new amendments include the banning of sharp instruments that can injure and kill the bull, a 10 minute limit in the bullring as opposed to the previous half-hour time period, mandated anti-doping tests for bullfighters and animals, the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the stadium, and no admittance of children under 18 years of age.

According to an article in the Independent, stringent new rules will also be implemented in regards to the transport, origin, age, and weight of the animals, as well as a ban on their slaughter.

“Taunting and killing bulls for entertainment is a brutal anachronism, and so this is a very satisfying victory for compassionate policy making,” said Joanna Swabe of global animal rights group Humane Society International. “Rather than allow the Constitutional Court ruling stand in the way of ending the cruel spectacle of bullfighting in the region, a cross-party group of politicians got creative to effectively ensure the harm of bulls for public entertainment is relegated on the Balearic Islands in Spain.

Critics, however, argue that the new law will effectively banish bullfighting altogether as it makes it difficult to attract spectators, and that the insurance requirements and fines imposed if animals get hurt are also unnecessarily restrictive.

The conservative People’s Party, the party of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, strongly oppose the measure deeming it an assault on Spanish culture and traditions which is ridiculous.

WAN looks forward to the complete eradication of bullfighting as a so-called “sport!”