Mexico’s congress has voted to ban traditional bullfights and introduce a new, bloodless form of spectacle. The move marks the culmination of years-long efforts by animal rights activists to outlaw the practice in the capital. While not achieving their goal of a total ban, the new regulation aims to reduce cruelty to bulls.
Under the new law, matadors will be restricted to using capes to draw bulls into a charge, while protecting their horns from harm. The events will last only 15 minutes, and once the time is up, bulls will be sent back to their owners. It’s now forbidden for bulls to die either inside or outside the ring.
The change was driven by a citizens’ initiative, but Mexico City’s government modified it to introduce bloodless bullfights as an alternative. The move aims to balance economic interests with animal welfare concerns. President Claudia Sheinbaum and animal rights groups have expressed support, while the bullfighting industry has rejected the new regulation.
Critics point out that a lack of interest in similar proposals in other countries, such as the Balearic Islands in Spain, suggests that fans may not be interested in bloodless bullfights. Animal rights groups like Culture Without Torture welcome the move, even if it’s not total, and believe the new regulation will have limited impact.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/18/mexico-city-bloodless-bullfights