In the Spanish town of Medinaceli, a bull was forced to endure hours of terror and pain during this year's Toro Jubilo, which is a festival in which burning fireballs are strapped to a bull's horns and set alight while crowds look on. Despite calls from animal protection groups to end this cruelty, the event went forward, and witnesses described the bull's agony as endless.
Sign now to demand that Spain ban Toro Jubilo permanently and protect bulls from this horrific suffering.
During the ritual, the bull is tied to a pole, fireballs are affixed to his horns, and then lit — blocking his vision, burning dangerously close to his face, and leaving him disoriented, terrified, and desperately trying to extinguish the flames in the mud. According to witnesses, the chaos lasted more than two hours as the animal cried out in distress.
Even after the fireballs went out, spectators reignited them with capes, prolonging the torture. By the time the bull was finally freed, much of the crowd had left, leaving a small group struggling to manage an event that had spiraled out of control.
This is not culture, it is cruelty. Spain can embrace its heritage without torturing animals. Countless cultural celebrations have evolved over time, and this one must, too. No festival should ever involve burning, blinding, or terrorizing a living being.
Sign the petition now to demand that the Government of Castilla y León and Spain's Ministry of Culture ban Toro Jubilo permanently, protect bulls from fire-based torture, and ensure that cruelty is never again disguised as tradition.
