Tradiciones Crueles

Madrid, España. The #NoEsMICUltura Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) highlights the contradiction in a society that rejects bullfighting as part of its identity, yet falters when presented with the chance to restore decision-making powers to local administrations – enabling them to outlaw the practice.

Madrid, España. After validating 664,777 signatures at the Central Electoral Board, the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) to repeal Law 18/2013—which protects bullfighting as cultural heritage—is set to make a grand entrance into Congress. Will politicians heed the citizens' mandate?

CDMX, México. Just hours ago, Mexico City Congress approved a historic reform: bloodless bullfighting. While activists celebrate progress toward abolition, the bullfighting industry mourns a tradition facing extinction. Is this the end of bullfighting in CDMX?

Madrid, España. The latest BBVA Foundation survey reveals that 84% of Spaniards find the use of animals in circuses unacceptable, and 77% reject bullfighting.

Madrid, España. The voice of Spanish society has echoed loudly: the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) “No Es Mi Cultura” has submitted 715,606 signatures—42% more than required—demanding the removal of bullfighting as cultural heritage.

Madrid, España. In the heart of Spain, a quiet revolution is unfolding. More than half a million people have signed a petition to strip bullfighting of its status as cultural heritage, a designation it has held since 2013. The initiative, aptly named "No Es Mi Cultura" (“It’s not my culture”), has become a rallying cry for a nation increasingly uncomfortable with the spectacle of blood and suffering. But this is more than a campaign against bullfighting; it is a referendum on what kind of society Spain wants to be.  

Medinaceli, España. The celebration of Medinaceli's Toro Jubilo, scheduled for November 16, has been suspended by the Administrative Litigation Court of Soria, ruling that tradition does not justify animal suffering. The measure, in response to an appeal by PACMA, underscores the legal protection of animals as sentient beings and highlights the progress of Spanish legislation on animal welfare.

Elgoibar , España. Although Sokamuturra remains a traditional event in various towns across the Basque Country, animal rights advocates denounce the suffering inflicted on the bulls during these spectacles. Is it time to rethink this custom?

Dénia, España. The recent debate in Dénia about bous a la mar rekindles the controversy between those defending bullfighting traditions and those fighting for animal rights. Despite the proposed modifications, the root of the conflict remains the exploitation and suffering of the bulls in these events.

Logroño, España. Each year, the San Mateo festivities in Logroño bring an ethical conflict between the celebration of life and the unnecessary death of animals in bullrings. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International call for the abolition of bullfights and the promotion of cruelty-free festivities.

Falces, España. The small town of Falces in Navarra has once again been the stage for a controversial tradition that sparks outrage among animal rights advocates. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International have released their latest report, exposing the cruelty inflicted on the calves and the alarming involvement of young people and teenagers in these events.

Bilbao, España. During the Aste Nagusia festivities, the Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre in Bilbao becomes the stage for a spectacle as archaic as it is cruel: bullfighting. However, what the public doesn't see—what happens after the applause fades and the stands empty—is the true face of bullfighting.

Medinaceli, España. In a landmark decision in the fight against animal cruelty in Spain, the Administrative Litigation Court No. 1 of Soria has declared illegal the municipal ordinance that allowed the celebration of the Toro Jubilo in Medinaceli, Soria. This ordinance, dating back to 1999 and modified in 2000 and 2015, has been annulled following a lawsuit filed by the Animalist Party with the Environment (PACMA) in November 2023, in a process that could spell the end of one of the last "embolado" bull events in Castilla y León.

Falces, España. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International denounce the dangerous incidents that occurred during the second running of the bulls at El Pilón in Falces, Navarra. This event, held on the morning of Monday, August 12, once again highlighted the inherent risks for both animals and participants, as well as spectators, including minors whose presence was documented by the organization in blatant violation of safety regulations.

Godelleta, España. This past Sunday, July 7, Godelleta, a small municipality in the Valencian Community, was the scene of a tragic incident during one of its traditional bullfighting festivals. At 9 a.m., a bull with a rope tied to its horns was released to run through the streets of the town. At one point during the run, the young men pulled on the rope just as the bull began to run, causing the animal to slip and break a horn.

Madrid, España. For just under a month, notaries across Spain have begun collecting signatures for the #NoEsMiCultura Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP, in spanish), aiming to gather the necessary 500,000 signatures in major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza, Palma de Mallorca, Bilbao, Granada, Seville, A Coruña, Logroño, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, among many others.

Valencia, España. Amidst the cold afternoon of March 9, 2024, the València bullring turned into a scene of horror and suffering for the animals participating in the inaugural novillada of the Fallas bullfighting season. As clouds darkened the sky and a persistent drizzle accompanied the atmosphere, Afanoso, Bravío, Endiablado, Sanluqueño, Corbecero, and Artesano were subjected to public torture in the name of entertainment.

Madrid, España. The promoting organizations will have nine months to gather the 500,000 signatures necessary to initiate its debate in Congress.

Medinaceli, España. Medinaceli, a small corner of Soria, once again finds itself at the center of a dark spectacle that ignites outrage and international condemnation. In this peaceful village of 721 inhabitants, the Toro Jubilo stands as a testament to human cruelty, a stark reminder that, in the 21st century, barbarity can still find its place in society.

Madrid, España. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International have launched a pioneering investigation in Spain that reveals an estimate of the expenses incurred in 2019 by the 1,820 municipalities that organize and finance this type of festival. 22% of Spanish municipalities hold some type of popular bull festival each year, with the majority concentrated in the Valencian Community, Castilla y León, and Castilla-La Mancha.

Morella, España. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International documented this weekend a contest where the horns of several bulls were lit with fire, in Morella (Castellón, Spain). Two bulls suffered accidents that, despite the censorship and aggression that the public tried, could be recorded.

Teruel, España. AnimaNaturalis and CAS recorded the animal suffering in Teruel and the exposure of children to this cruelty during the festivities of La Vaquilla.

Teruel, España. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International witnessed in Teruel 12 bulls forced to run in suffocating heat to close La Vaquilla 2023. Tied by the head, the animals stumbled several times on the garbage-filled asphalt and had to endure constant abuse from the public.

Dénia, España. The bulls we throw into the sea are still legal in the Valencian Community, and Dénia is where they are most popular. For this reason, AnimaNaturalis and CAS International return to that town to document the martyrdom of the bulls in the name of tradition.

Pamplona, España. Oloroso, Hípico, Sonámbulo, Rascatripas, Fundidor, Ofuscado, Legionario and Ibicenco. These are the names of the steers that were tortured and killed on the first date of Pamplona's Feria del Toro, which inaugurates the bullfights that will be held during San Fermín.