Bullfighting pits a bull against men wielding barbed spikes, spears, swords and daggers. These weapons are designed to inflict intense pain and cause blood loss to weaken the animal.

Considered an ‘art form’ by its dwindling number of supporters, bullfighting takes place in several European countries and parts of Latin America.

WSPA believes this violent form of animal abuse should be banned worldwide.

Our campaign focuses on a region that is close to achieving a ban: Catalonia.


Fighting back
Catalonia is leading the way against bullfighting in Spain, thanks to campaigning work by WSPA and Spanish member society Asociacion Defensa Derechos Animal (ADDA).

Our campaign has found great public support. People are seeing bullfighting for what it is – a barbaric pastime with no place in the modern world.

How you can help
In 2005 a law to ban bullfighting was proposed to the Catalan Parliament for the first time in Spanish history. Almost a million people have now signed our petition to make the bullfighting ban a top priority. Please add your name >>

You can also show you care about animals by never attending a bullfight or any other attraction which neglects animal welfare. The bullfighting industry relies heavily on financial support from curious tourists – don’t be one of them. Read more about being an animal friendly traveller >>

WSPA member society the League Against Cruel Sports has created a world wide bullfighting pledge. Will you promise never to attend a bullfight?

Campaign successes so far
A 2007 Gallup poll showed that over 72% of Spaniards have no interest in bullfighting.
Barcelona’s last working bullring now holds fights fortnightly rather than weekly, due to low attendances.
Councils in 45 towns and cities in Catalonia, including Barcelona, have declared themselves opposed to bullfighting.
Baños de Agua Santa City Council in Ecuador declared itself anti-bullfighting in 2007, becoming the first city in the Americas to speak out against the ‘sport’.
However, a small pro-bullfighting lobby does exist, and while bullfighting continues, there is more to be done.



Bullfighting: a blood sport
A Spanish bullfight sets up to eight men against a frightened and disorientated animal in an enclosed ring.

During the fight the bull is tormented, weakened and brought to its knees by a variety of spears, spikes and daggers. These weapons inflict incredible pain and the distressed bull is weakened by blood loss.

After around 15 minutes of extreme suffering, the matador finally kills the exhausted bull. Many die drowning in their own blood because the matador’s inaccuracy often pierces their lungs instead of the heart.

Following this, a short dagger, or ‘puntilla’, is used to sever the bull’s spinal cord at the neck before the bull is dragged out of the arena. In the worst cases, the bull is still hanging onto life as it is hauled away.

No excuse for cruelty
WSPA knows bullfighting inflicts massive suffering on the animals involved.

We believe cultural heritage is no excuse.

It is shocking that bullfighting still exists in a European Union (EU), which prides itself on being a world leader in animal welfare.

The Amsterdam Protocol recognises that sentient animals – those capable of feeling fear and pleasure – should be protected from cruelty. This barbaric sport should not be an exception to this rule.

Bear poaching and illegal trade

Bile and body parts, taken from bears using horrifically inhumane means, feed an illegal trade in bear products which extends worldwide.

Bear farming makes bile easy to produce in large quantities, meaning bile products currently remain profitable despite alternatives being available.

The sad reality is that this market encourages illegal trading and threatens the existence of wild bears.


Hunted and exploited
In some countries, wild bear populations are under threat from poachers.

Poachers will hunt and remove bears from their natural habitat, and deliver them into a life of pain and suffering in the bear farms.

The industry has failed to produce credible evidence that bear farming ‘protects’ wild bear populations. Farmed bears have not been and cannot be re-introduced to the wild.

A cultural belief that wild bear gall bladders are of higher quality than those from farmed bears keeps the cost of wild bear products high, meaning poaching and exporting them is lucrative.

Fuelling an illegal trade
It is illegal to commercially export bear parts, including gall bladders and bile, under the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

But WSPA investigators have revealed that some Asian bear farmers do export their products across the world.

To combat illegal trade in bear bile and body parts, WSPA has launched bear protein detection kits developed by Wildlife DNA Services, a specialist wildlife forensics organisation.

The detection kits, currently being trialled in Australia and Canada, will be used by customs and wildlife officers. They are easy to use, working similarly to home pregnancy testing kits.

Act now to protect bears
Bear products are on sale in many countries. If you use Traditional Asian Medicine, check no bear products are used by your practitioner.

Please give WSPA your support so we can continue to work towards an end to bear farming and realise our vision of a world free from animal cruelty.

More than 12,000 bears are suffering desperately cruel conditions in Asia’s bear farms, right now.

They are confined so bile can be extracted from their gall bladders and sold for use in some Traditional Asian Medicine.

The inhumane methods used to extract bile causes severe pain and trauma to the bears, who occupy tiny cages. Their suffering is intense. See inside the bear farms>>

WSPA believes bear farming is cruel, unnecessary and must end. Increasing numbers of Traditional Asian Medicine practitioners agree, and are turning to herbal and synthetic alternatives.

The threat to wild bears
A bear caged for its bile in an Asian bear farm
© WSPABear farmers sometimes argue that by supplying the demand for bear bile their industry protects wild bears.

But WSPA investigations show that in some countries poachers are selling live bears to farms, and providing gall bladders and bear bile from farms for illegal exportation.

Bear farming is a threat to vulnerable wild bear populations, especially in south-east Asia


WSPA is working with the Calvin Ayre Foundation to protect wild bears and end bear farming, by:

Working in partnership with Asian governments – using research, education and diplomacy to work for an end bear farming.

Calling for an end to the illegal trade in bear products. The WSPA bear proteins detection kit allows customs officials to stop illegal imports of bear bile and body parts.

Working with practitioners and consumers of Traditional Asian Medicine to promote the alternatives to bear bile.

Our approach is working. In 2005 the Vietnamese government committed to phase out bear farms after reaching a Memorandum of Understanding with WSPA. New regulations, alongside WSPA’s programme to microchip bears, help to prevent new bears suffering this cruel practice.

But there is so much more to do.