The Beijing Daxing District government has decided to cancel its
Spanish bullfighting program after strong protests against animal
cruelty from deputies to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress
(BMPC) and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC).
Shen Baochang, secretary of the Beijing Daxing District
Committee of the Communist Party of China, said a bullring now
under construction -- touted as the largest in Asia -- will show
tame animal performances and circuses instead of bullfights in the
future, the Beijing News reported.
Investors in the project at the Beijing Wild Animal Park said
the original plan called for US-style rodeos rather than Spanish
bullfighting.
"In Spanish bullfighting a matador kills the bull. In the US, a
cowboy rides a bull but does not kill it," park officials were
quoted as saying.
In rodeo bull riding, the competitor attempts to remain on a
bull's back for eight seconds, holding on with only one hand while
the 1,000-kilogram bull attempts to throw him off.
Park officials said the district government and other
authorities will make the final determination as to how the ring
will be used.
The 6,400-seat ring is set to be completed this month, and
bullfighting was scheduled to begin on May 1.
Shen Mengpei and Wu Shoulun, both BMPC deputies, complained to
Shen Baochang late last month, saying that Spanish bullfighting is
cruel and that China should not introduce an event that its own
traditions consider uncultured.
CPPCC member Liang Congjie said that Beijing is preparing for
the 2008 Olympics and should display civilized behavior, not
cruelty to animals.
Mang Ping, an expert in animal welfare, said that even if
officials stage US or Canadian-style rodeos rather than bullfights,
calves could still be hurt. In rodeo calf-roping events, young
animals are lassoed by cowboys pursuing them on horseback. The
cowboys, who are timed for the winning score, jump from their
horses, twist the calves' necks until they fall and bind them.
"Such meaningless competitions in the United States even have
examples of the necks of calves being broken, or other injuries,"
she said.
"It goes against moral principles," Mang complained.
(China Daily April 2, 2004)