Permit denied for Toro de la Vega bull-killing 'festival'
Tuesday, June 28, 2016 @ 9:44 PM
REGIONAL government officials in Castilla y León have banned the village of Tordesillas from 'celebrating' its bloodthirsty bull-spearing spectacle, the Toro de la Vega unless the animal comes out of it alive.
The 'festival' was due to go ahead, as every year, on September 13, but when the town council applied for permission as it is required to do annually, this was denied.
According to the government of the centre-northern region, Tordesillas has not amended the rules of the 'game' to ensure the bull is not killed, meaning it is, by default, outlawed.
A recent change to regional legislation means bull-related spectacles outside of a designated and fixed bull-ring must not end with a kill, and the Toro de la Vega takes place in a field just outside the village.
The bull is surrounded by crowds who hurl lances at the animal, and when they have hit their target, the bull is left to bleed to death.
Given that the spectacle cannot go ahead in this format and spare the animal's life at the same time, a permit has been refused for the first time ever.
The only way Tordesillas can proceed with the 'festival' is by changing the rules to ensure the bull survives, and presenting these to the court within a fortnight.
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