CAS International
CAS International (Comité Anti Stierenvechten) is the biggest organization in the world which works exclusively on the abolition of bullfighting and cruel fiestas (festivals) during which bulls and other animals are tortured. Together with our colleague organizations, we want to end this animal abuse as soon as possible.
More information about CAS International.
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is one of the most cruel forms of animal abuse. Every year, more than 250,000 bulls and cows are tortured and killed worldwide during bullfights and similar events.
Also during fiestas ('village festivals'), tens of thousands of bulls and other animals are severely maltreated.
More information about bullfighting and fiestas.
No bullfighting in Las Vegas!
In April 2009, CAS International (Comité Anti Stierenvechten) was informed that 'bloodless bullfights' were to be organized for the first time in Las Vegas (United States), in September and December 2009 and in September and December 2010. 'Bloodless bullfights' are bullfights during which bullfighters stick 'spears' with velcro on the backs of the bulls instead of real spears. In the United States, it is forbidden to injure and kill bulls during bullfights, but this does not mean that the 'bloodless' bullfights are animal friendly, which we will explain to you later in this text.
CAS International immediately wrote letters to the South Port Equestrian and Events Center (also called South Point Arena, where the bullfights take place), the mayor of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, to ask them to cancel the bullfights. The mayor responded that he does not have jurisdiction over the South Point Center and that we should contact the Council of Clark County, so we did.
We also contacted all our colleague organizations worldwide to ask them to protest against these bullfights. We also work together with organizations in the US to stop the bullfights on a legal ground and - if this is not possible – to be monitored by inspectors. After receiving several reminders from CAS International, a Clark County official responded by saying that an animal welfare officer visited the bullfights in September 2009 and that he did no see any form of animal suffering or violation of the rules.
'Bloodless bullfights' also take place in California and there, our colleague organization Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) discovered that sharp objects are regularly placed in between the velcro, so that the bulls are injured on purpose.
- A banderilla with pin, used during a bullfight in California (c) KTLA
This is not visible under the velcro on the backs of the bulls, which are probably also attached to their backs in a painful manner. Investigators have seized several weapons in May 2009 and they have stopped these bullfights in California. Take a look here for a video.
We don't know if the bulls in Las Vegas are abused in the same manner, but these bullfights are organized by the 'regular' bullfighting industry and 'real' matadors, who kill hundreds of bulls a year, participate in these bullfights. They are used to torture and kill bulls, so they might not take the rules too seriously.
For more information on the Las Vegas bullfights: www.toroslasvegas.com.
You can help us by participating in our online protest.
This protest will be sent to:
- The director of the South Point Arena
- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
- The Council of Clark County
Our colleague organization PETA USA also put a protest on her website. This will be sent to the owner of the South Point Arena. It is important to take part in BOTH protests.
The PETA protest can be found here.
Thank you for your support!
You can also send a personalized letter (or email) to the ones involved in the Las Vegas bullfights. Below you can find the details. Please stamp your envelope properly. Please stay polite!
South Point Arena
Attn. Steve Stallworth, director general
9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89183
United States of America
E-mail: events@southpointcasino.com
Website: www.southpointeventscenter.com
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Attn. Board of Directors
3150 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109
United States of America
E-mail: international@lvcva.com (e-mail address for international visitors to Las Vegas)
Websites: www.lvcva.com and www.visitlasvegas.com (official tourist website of Las Vegas)
Clark County
500 S. Grand Central Pkwy.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89155
United States of America
Website: www.accessclarkcounty.com
E-mail: epappa@co.clark.nv.us (public communications)
Tips for tourists
CAS International has made a list of tips for tourists, so you can also help us abolish bullfighting and other cruel events with bulls and other animals as a tourist.
The main tip: never go to a bullfight or a cruel fiesta, like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona!
Please take a look here for more tips.
Videos
Videos of bullfights, cruel fiestas and protests of CAS International and others.
- Flash is required!
Photo album
In the CAS photo album, you can find photos of protests, bullfighting and cruel fiestas.
CLICK HERE for the photo album.
