Bullfighting Industry History: Blood Money for the Great Show.

Added: 10/12/2005

Bullfighting industry history goes back to the XV century, when bullfighting was an important part of the majority of country's festivals. On changing its form and becoming available to the common people in the XVIII century, the industry showed the first signs of growth. With the appearance of Matadors - the top bullfighters - Corrida gained more popularity, becoming a real art. Matadors introduced a new style, daring and dangerous, which kept the public in constant tension.

The situation has changed of late. Today bullfighting industry faces crisis, probably the worst in its history. The reason is the Blue Tongue disease, which has affected the animals and led to restrictions on their movement. Of course, such restrictions have a deleterious impact on the bullfighting industry, the costs and quality of fights.

Bullfighting industry history is closely interlinked with the tourist industry. The fight is shown in the light of festivity and is considered a fair competition. But is it really so?
The bullfight promoters often forget to mention that the bull is rather a victim and has no chance to defend himself. The bulls are usually given drugs, which mask injuries and make animals less strong. The bull's horns are often "shaved", though it is illegal. The veterinary inspections are of little help: the matadors go on strikes in opposition to them, claiming the veterinarians are not qualified. Not only bulls fall victims to the cruelty, the horses used in bullfights become affected as well. Following the bullfighting industry history we cannot help perceiving the damage it has been doing to animals.

For these reasons bullfighting is forbidden in some parts of the United States. Many petitions with protests have been submitted by British and American campaigners for animals' rights. According to statistics, 69% of Spaniards show no interest in bullfights. 5,000 Spanish demonstrations took place in 1995 calling for an end to bullfighting industry. Spain's Green Party has been making great efforts for the defense of animal rights. The petition gathered more than 1 million signatures in 1993. The World Society for the Protection of Animals published the results of public opinion polls in Mexico. A strong majority was against bullfights. Political support for the campaign is also growing.
But facts are stubborn things. Despite the claims, bullfighting industry keeps on flourishing. It is overflowing with agents, journalists, promoters and bullfighters.

A professional matador is paid about $ 1 million. Over $ 1 billion is pulled in in ticket sales annually. About 90% of the spectators are American and Canadian. They pay a ticket price of approximately $29 for a show which lasts two hours and includes rodeo, dances and finally a bullfight. Most visitors leave their first bullfight before it is over, but as soon as they buy the ticket the damage has been done. Hundreds of thousands of jobs are involved with the bullfighting industry, directly or indirectly: clothes shops, hotels and ticket sellers. Bullfighting industry history is the evidence of the transformation of Art of Corrida into commerce and business.

So long as the business is of benefit and income it will flourish, irrespective of all the claims and protests. Public opposition alone will not stop bullfighting. The reforms are required to stop the killing of animals. World Society for the Protection of Animals' campaign is aimed to inspire the public to participate more actively in the abolition of bullfighting. But this fact surely won't put an end to bullfighting industry history.

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