Reportage: What happens to the bull after the bullfight?

11-09-2024

CAS International and AnimaNaturalis have released a new reportage with images taken right after the bullfight. So what happens to the bulls? We shot the images during the Aste Nagusia festivities at the Vista Alegre bullring in Bilbao, Spain.

When the bullfight is over, the bulls are dragged away by horses to the back of the bullring. Here they disappear from public view. In theory, the bull should be dead by this stage, but practice often proves otherwise: the bull is sometimes still conscious. With these images, we want to make visible what happens to the bulls behind the scenes after a bullfight. A butcher cuts the body of the bull into pieces and removes the organs. Watch the report here (NOTE: the images may be considered shocking):

🔴 NEW REPORTAGE | What the public does not see, what happens once the applause stops and the stands are empty, is the true face of bullfighting.

🎬 Aste Nagusia 2024. Bilbao, Spain.

We show you the reality they don’t want you to see 👇 pic.twitter.com/RCmE4RsiT6

— CAS International (@CAS_Int) September 10, 2024

Reportage Aste Nagusia

For the reportage, we filmed in Bilbao, during the Aste Nagusia festivities. It is striking that the bullring was less than half filled with spectators. And we see this picture for years. The number of bullfights in Spain has declined dramatically over the past decade, and Bilbao is no exception.

Our reportage also revives the debate about the future of the Vista Alegre bullring. This venue of more than two thousand square meters can be transformed into a place that truly meets the needs and desires of the people of Bilbao. The possibilities are many: from a cultural center where people can enjoy theater and music to a place for sports activities. In any case, a place where there is no room for animal cruelty.

Disinterest in bullfighting

And the disinterest in bullfighting is growing not only in Bilbao, but also in the rest of Spain. The number of bullfights decreased by 63 percent since 2007. According to recent surveys, more than 50 percent of Spaniards are in favor of banning or curbing bullfighting (SocioMétrica, 2019). In addition, a study by Fundación BBVA in 2022 found that 8 out of 10 Spaniards are against the use of animals for bullfighting. And a recent survey conducted by Ipsos I&O Public for CAS International shows that bullfighting is rejected in Spain, France and Portugal.  77% of respondents think that bullfighting causes too much suffering to animals and 58% think it should be banned.

Survey

#NoEsMiCultura

Spanish organizations have been collecting signatures for the citizens’ initiative #NoEsMiCultura since the beginning of this year. 500,000 signatures must be collected by February 2025 to remove the legal protection of bullfighting, by repealing Law 18/2013, which declares bullfighting Spain’s cultural heritage. This will restore regional and local governments’ own powers over culture and entertainment. CAS International supports the citizens’ initiative.

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