The latest international travel company to remove Spain’s annual San Fermín festival from the itineraries it offers is UK-based On Site Events.
After hearing from PETA UK, On Site Events now joins the growing majority of travel companies – including The Travel Corporation, Club Med, and G Adventures – that have stopped all promotion of bullfighting in recent years.
During the cruel festival in Pamplona, animals are chased down the streets in the Running of the Bulls and later stabbed to death in the bullring. The ritualised killing of bulls doesn’t belong on anyone’s travel itinerary, so we’re delighted to see On Site Events take this compassionate step.
The Sadistic Running of the Bulls Spectacle
Every year, dozens of bulls are terrorised as they’re chased by a mob down the streets of Pamplona. The confused, frightened animals are often injured from crashing into walls, falling, or colliding with one another.
After this ordeal, the bulls are forced to enter the bullring, where they are taunted and stabbed repeatedly with a lance and several harpoon-like banderillas until weakened from blood loss. Once a bull is too injured to defend himself, the matador stabs the exhausted animal with a sword. Bulls’ tails or ears may even be cut off and kept as grotesque “trophies”.
Torture, Not Tradition
When The Travel Corporation dropped the event from its Contiki and Busabout tours in 2018, its head of PR said that the decision was “mainly for the reason of the treatment of the bulls”. She continued, “It’s what our passengers are telling us as well; [it’s about] making travel matter, making sure they’re putting their best foot forward. They want to know that in everything they do they make a difference. We’re aligning with those ideals the best we can.”
But in recent years, Aussies have still accounted for the biggest proportion of foreign runners at the Running of the Bulls – many seemingly oblivious to the fact that every single one of the terrified animals they chase through the cobbled streets will be dead a few hours later, after being repeatedly stabbed in a bullfight.
The tide is turning on this archaic spectacle. More than 125 Spanish towns and cities have banned bullfighting, and 93% of young Spanish people are against it – but this industry continues on its last legs in part because of tourists’ money.
Bullfights, like gladiator combat, must be consigned to the history books. Please sign our petition to the mayor of Pamplona, urging him to end this barbaric slaughter now:
Want to help make victories for animals like this happen? PETA Australia is hiring a Corporate Liaison.
The post Here’s Why Travel Companies Are Dropping Pamplona Bullfighting appeared first on PETA Australia.
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