THE Balearic Islands could become the third region in Spain to officially outlaw bull-fighting, thanks to a motion put forward by a left-wing independent party which looks set to gain the support of a majority.
MP for MÉS, David Abril, says the move, largely instigated by animal rights activists, would mean reforming the existing regional animal protection law, and some of the most numerous regional Parliamentary groups have already said they would be in favour of doing so.
If it goes ahead, by 2016, bull-fighting may be banned in the islands for good.
As chairwoman of the Pro-Animal Association for the Balearic Islands, Carmen Rojas says, the new regional government has axed public funding for bull-fights and 'it has shown itself to be a loss-making activity' since fewer and fewer are held every year and with hardly any spectators.
“If bull-fights were as much in demand as some parties claim, they would not need to be subsidised by public funds which are totally necessary in other areas instead,” Sra Rojas states.
At present, only four bull-rings in Mallorca remain active – those in Palma, Alcúdia, Inca and Muro – whilst the one in Menorca has been shut for 40 years, the one in Ibiza used for other activities instead, and in Formentera bull-fighting has never taken place at all.
Socialists at regional level say they have a petition signed by 130,000 people and the backing of 23 town councils in the Balearics, adding that the islands have never really had a major bull-fighting tradition in any case.
Other parts of Spain have already banned bull-fighting, including the town of Torrelavega in Cantabria and the city of Huesca in Aragón, whilst Oviedo, in Asturias, has outlawed circuses with animals, but only two entire regions – Catalunya and the Canary Islands – are officially bull-free.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com