What are they?

BECERRADAS (CALF BULLFIGHTS)

Hundreds of calves are cruelly killed in towns across Spain, usually under the pretext of celebrating the town's patron saint festivities.

Calves are the male offspring of cows, always under 2 years old. It has often been observed that animals barely over a year old, recently weaned from their mothers, are used in village festivals for the "enjoyment and entertainment" of local residents. These calves are released into the bullring so that usually inexperienced people can show off "like real bullfighters" for a day, amid laughter, mockery, and sometimes jeers at these individuals' poor aim when placing the banderillas and sword, causing the calves a slow and extremely painful death.

THE PROBLEM

It is common to observe the clumsiness of these animals due to the fragility of their leg muscles and their still-undeveloped motor skills, so the stumbles, falls and terror felt by these young animals cause them serious injuries throughout their bodies, further exposing the cruel face of this celebration.

THE REASONS

Becerradas are in demand in a large number of town councils across the country due to their low cost compared to holding other types of bullfighting events, which use larger animals and require hiring a professional matador. In addition, the accessibility and possibility of taking part in this spectacle appeals to broad sections of the population, since no previous experience is needed to "fight" the animals.

THE FIGURES

The largest number of towns holding becerradas are concentrated in the Community of Madrid and in Castilla y León, where dozens of municipalities of every kind (and growing in number) are complicit in this barbaric practice. These figures remain undetermined with any precision due to the lack of transparency of many town councils when it comes to reporting on this event. But the horrors of these spectacles are increasingly being brought to light, with harrowing images showing that becerradas have no place whatsoever in a modern, "civilised" country. Rejection by society keeps growing, and various campaigns are underway to help put an end to this practice, so that public conscience will force politicians to stop supporting this type of festival, which is classified as "especially cruel".