Main content

Spain鈥檚 Battle for the Bull

Spain's national bullfighting association has warned that the tradition is in crisis. Neal Razzell reports.

Two sides are sharpening their swords in Spain. Between them, half-tonne bulls. One side wants to kill them in the name of culture, the other to save them in the name of animal rights. It is an age-old contest but the balance of power is changing. Spain鈥檚 economic crisis has hit bullfighting hard. And municipal elections in May brought to power a number of left-wing parties bent on stopping funding for bullfights or even banning them altogether. Spain's national bullfighting association has warned that the tradition is in crisis. This programme goes to the rings and ranches where livelihoods are under threat, and asks what the battle for the bull says about contemporary Spain.

(Photo: A novillero or junior bullfighter, faces up to a bull at the ring in Cuellar, North of Madrid)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Mon 5 Oct 2015 06:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 02:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 03:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 04:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 05:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 06:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 16:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 18:32GMT
  • Thu 1 Oct 2015 21:32GMT
  • Sun 4 Oct 2015 09:06GMT
  • Mon 5 Oct 2015 01:06GMT
  • Mon 5 Oct 2015 06:06GMT

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes