Learn to hate bullfighting.

Recorded by The League Against Cruel Sports and Libera in "top class" bullrings in Spain and Peru during 2006.

This story is about the fair fight between matador and bull. The matador is the hero. He’s very brave. Actually 1 matador is killed for every 500 000 bulls that are killed.

One day prior to the fight food and water is taken away from the bull, and he is given salt. On the day of the fight sand bags are used to hit the bull's kidneys, to cause internal injuries. Often the horns are sawed off, aside from being very painful this also impairs the bull’s coordination. Petroleum jelly is rubbed into the eyes of the bull, to blur his vision. Drugs and laxatives are also common means to weaken him. The bull is kept in a dark space, so the sun will be blinding when he enters the arena.

Once in the arena the bull is approached by picadors (men on blindfolded horses) who drive lances into the bull’s back and neck muscles. The purpose is to impair the bull’s ability to lift his head, and to ensure a significant amount of blood loss.

Then the banderilleros enter on foot and proceed to plunge colourful harpoons into the bulls back. When the bull has become sufficiently weakened from blood loss, the banderilleros run him in circles until he becomes dizzy and stops chasing.

Now, the matador appears and tries to kill the bull with his sword. He is supposed to put the sword between the bull’s shoulders and through the heart, but usually the matador misses the heart and puts the sword through the lungs instead. The bull is then made to move again so that the sword will move inside him and cut up his lungs. This is usually when the bull drops to his knees, since he is drowning.

The execution is then made by a small dagger in the bull’s neck instead, it is supposed to cut the animal’s spinal cord. But often the bull remains conscious, though paralysed, for quite some time. If the crowd is happy with the matador, the bull’s ears and tail are cut off and presented as a trophy. The bull is then chained by his horns and dragged out of the arena, and at last he gets to die back stage.

The show usually lasts for about 15-20 minutes. This of course isn’t enough to satisfy our hunger for torture, so another five bulls will follow him to make our evening of amusement truly fulfilling.

Bulls aren’t the only victims in bullfights. Horses used in bullfights are blindfolded and have their ears stuffed, so they won’t be able to run away from the bull. The horses are often gored by the terrified bulls, their ribs are broken and they suffer great internal injuries.

Do something with your hate. La Tortura has a long list of organisations working to ban bullfighting. One of the main reasons bullfighting continues is because of bloodthirsty tourists. So tell bullfighting countries that you would’ve liked to go there and spend all your savings, but decided not to since they torture and kill for entertainment.