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.
Cruel fiestas with cattle - continuation
- Toros de Pueblo: fiesta that takes place in Ecuador, especially in the Riobamba region. In some sort of bullring a red cloth (colcha) is attached on the bull’s back (some say it is sewed on the bull’s skin), which contains some money. A crowd of aficionado bullfighters try to grab it. Normally, the bull is not killed.
- Toro Piscina (in France: Toro Piscine): a young bull is released into a 'bullring', where in the middle a small inflatable swimming pool is placed, in which the bull has to be chased by a crowd. Often, other obstacles are placed in the ring as well, on which people can jump when the bull gets too close. Sometimes objects are also placed in the pool, so people need to go in and get wet to get them. These events are usually organized to amuse children. Toro Piscine is organized in the South of France and in other regions and municipalities in the bullfighting countries.
- Vaquillas: cows are released in the streets one by one and they are abused by a big mob in different ways. Sometimes a bullring is used and special hiding places for people are built. After a while the cows are taken back to the lorry where they were released from. They are normally not killed after the event. These events are very common in small villages in the Spanish region of Aragón.
Several municipalities organize their own specific festival, which does not occur anywhere else (or perhaps in some other places). A few examples:
- Embalse de Toros (Tlacotalpan, Mexico): seven or more bulls (and regularly also cows) are forced to consume huge amounts of alcohol and are forced to swim through a deep river, tied to little boats. Once they arrive ashore, they are chased and tortured to death with knives and other weapons.

- Embalse de Toros Tlacotalpan, Mexico, 1 February 2007
- Toro de Coria (Extremadura, Spain): in the Spanish town of Coria (Extremadura) a bull is released into a ring with iron bars all around, where spectators can hide behind. They throw hundreds of paper darts with a nail inside towards the bull, using blowpipes. These darts often end up in the most sensitive parts of the bull, such as his eyes, nose and testicles. Regularly, banderillas are also stuck into the bull's body. Afterwards, the bull is shot or stabbed to death.
- Toro de la Vega (Tordesillas, Spain): a bull is chased by hundreds of men on foot and on horse, while he is stabbed with long lances and other weapons, until he collapses. When he lies on the ground, the person who gave him the 'fatal' stab, is granted a trophy: the bulls' tail and/or testicles. After this, the animal is put out of its misery.
- Yawar Fiesta (or Toropukyai, Peru): fiesta organized in the Andean region of Peru. A condor (the largest bird of prey in the world) is tied to the back of a bull. The condor, who represents the indigenous cultures, tries to free himself with all his strength, and in his efforts often dies. The bull, which represents the Spanish colonists, is killed by the condor or by the participants to the fiesta.

- Yawar Fiesta in Peru © Guy Vanackeren
In other countries, such as Brasil and Nicaragua, bulls are tortured in other manners. For example, in Brasil, the infamous festival Farra do Boi is organized, during which oxes are tortured and killed in a horrible manner. According to the Brazilian law, it is forbidden to torture oxes during this festival, but people keep doing it.
In the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries, cattle, horses and other animals are horribly abused during rodeo events (video). In countries such as India, Kenya, Korea and Japan, bulls are set to fight each other. Often, accidents occur and the animals are often 'prepared' before the fight to make sure they win (often, big amounts of gambling money are involved).
During many fiestas, horrible things happen to animals, because most participants do not care about the rules. And although there might be rules, CAS International thinks that the fact that these fiestas exist is a shame in itself.
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.
Photo album
In the CAS photo album, you can find photos of protests, bullfighting and cruel fiestas.
CLICK HERE for the photo album.











