Blood sports
The term "blood sports" applies to various kinds of forced combat between animals: bullfighting, bear baiting, cockfighting and dog fighting to name a few. The animals are bred specifically to fight and are typically confined in appalling conditions throughout their short lives.
Much of the world has already passed legislation to limit blood sports. However, some are still legal in places where people view them as cultural traditions.
WSPA opposes blood sports and any other staged fights between animals on the grounds that they cause the animals unnecessary suffering.
WSPA is currently focused on ending two of the most savage blood sports: bullfighting and bear baiting.
On October 19th, WSPA Canada launched 'Exotic Fights', a groundbreaking education campaign to raise awareness of the cruelty to animals inherent in blood sports. Find out more about the campaign >>
Bullfighting
© TBC
Around the world, hundreds of thousands of bulls are killed every year while paying audiences look on and cheer. At these cruel spectacles, people watch as defenseless bulls are methodically attacked and tormented over a gruesome twenty minutes before finally being killed.
These cruel and terrible fights occur in Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, and several other countries in Latin America. WSPA believes that these events have no place in modern society, and we are working with our member socieities to bring them to an end.
Read more about bullfighting and find out how you can help stop it for good >>
Bear baiting
© WSPA/Mark Rissi
Bear baiting is a horrible, heartbreaking "sport" where a terrified bear is dragged into an arena by a rope through its nose and forced to fight against a pair of dogs. Filled with fear, the bear knows what is about to happen, but since it is tied to a post in the ground, all it can do is cry out and wait for the assault to begin.
The bear's teeth have been removed and its claws dulled - so attempts to defend itself are useless. Again and again the dogs lunge at the bear's throat and nose, opening fresh wounds until all its strength and energy are gone. It is a fight no animal can win.
WSPA has helped to dramatically reduce the number of bear baiting events in recent years by working with governments to develop legislation that outlaws these horrible events. We have also established the Kund Bear Sanctuary to provide a safe home to bears rescued from bear baiting events.
Read more about bear baiting and find out how you can help stop it for good >>
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