Animals in Entertainment | Learning to Give Search Resource Library Animals in Entertainment Animals have been and will continue to be used in entertainment, often to the detriment of the animals. While laws are helpful in banning and regulating certain practices, it is the demand for entertainment that will always keep the business flourishing. Jennifer Dragotta, MS Ed. Definition "Animals in Entertainment" refers to any animal(s) used to act, perform, fight and/or kill for the enjoyment of humans. The term encompasses many different forms of entertainment – from circuses to movies to bullfighting. Except for a few situations, most animals are taken out of their natural environment to perform acts not typically in their behavioral repertoire. Domestic animals who appear in films are an exception as many are able to stay in their natural habitat. Exotic animals used for entertainment, such as elephants, tigers, and dolphins, are taken from their respective habitats and may be starved, beaten or otherwise maltreated to become submissive to a trainer. Many of these animals are continually maltreated throughout their performance years in an effort to make them behave accordingly. Most of the training occurs privately, making it easy for many to deny that cruelty to animals exists in the entertainment field.

However, if one looks closely during the circus, for example, it is apparent how these animals are treated - performers threaten tigers with a whip and often hit elephants with metal rung on their legs. Historic Roots It appears as though animals were used for entertainment purposes since ancient times. Archeological findings in Macedonia that date back to 2,000 B.C.E. (Library Index) reveal that lions were kept in cages for the benefit of humans. The Circus Maximus in Rome began in 2 B.C.E. and is one of the most well-known entertainment venues in history. Chariot races, which involved horses, were the most popular and often resulted in death to both human and horses. Another popular event involved lions and human gladiators fighting to the death. The stadium always reached its capacity of 270,000 spectators. Circuses today are just as popular. While they no longer include fights to the death, the inherent act of animals performing against their will and living in atypical conditions suggests cruelty. Dog fighting is assumed to have existed since the domestication of the species. (Wikipedia). Some dogs were bred and continue to be bred for this purpose.

Dog fighting is often associated with the English, who reveled in this blood sport for hundreds of years. However, most cultures have practiced dog fighting throughout history. During the 12th century, dog fighting was very popular in Japan. This was a peaceful time in Japan’s history and dog fighting was encouraged to retain some aggression (Wikipedia). Today, dog fighting occurs in most countries, even with laws against the practice. Cockfighting, while not as popular as dog fighting, is still prevalent around the world. In the United States, cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states (not illegal in MS til 8/2008) . Cockfighting is considered to have cultural significance in many parts of the world and in Mexico, a famous concert hall is host to many fights. The history of cockfighting is recorded in ancient literature of the Tamil Nadu region of India, dating back 2,000 years (Wikipedia). Bull fighting is a legal blood sport in Spain, Portugal and Latin America and is enormously popular. Like dog fighting and cockfighting, bull fighting has strong historical significance. Killing a bull was considered part of a sacred ritual in Roman times.

(Wikipedia)There is some opposition to bull fighting but the sport continues to be a popular attraction. The rodeo originated in Spain and Mexico in the sixteenth century yet it is often thought to be of American origin. Texas and Wyoming consider the rodeo their state sport yet it is widely practiced in many US states. While the rodeo is not a blood sport, there are numerous practices that inflict pain to the animals, including metal and electric cattle prods, tail twisting and calf roping (Wikipedia). The most popular forms of animal racing are horse, dog and sled. There are opportunities for abuse in each of these “sports”. In response to the death of Eight Belles at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, ASPCA President Ed Sayres noted “the sport of horse racing is no different than other forms of entertainment where animals are forced to perform, oftentimes in stressful and inhumane conditions. These include being raced too young before reaching physical maturity, being raced excessively, being forced to run on hard or slippery surfaces or being injected with drugs to enhance performance.” (ASPCA) Greyhounds are poorly treated in dog racing. They are typically housed in a substandard manner.

Those that do not win races are culled regularly with only a small proportion having the opportunity to be adopted into a home (Grey2KUSA). There are also reports of abuses occurring in sled dog competitions, which can be very different from recreational mushing events (Sled Dog Action Coalition). Importance Animals have been and will continue to be used in entertainment, often to the detriment of the animals. While laws are helpful in banning and regulating certain practices, it is the demand for the entertainment that will always keep the business flourishing. Dog fighting and cock fighting are illegal in many parts of the world yet it is often practiced illegally. Some countries, including Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Finland, and Singapore have restricted the use of animals in entertainment (Wikipedia).The UK and Scottish Parliaments have committed to ban certain wild animals in travelling circuses. Many people are starting to feel uncertain about animal acts in circuses and are opting to avoid circuses and find alternative forms of entertainment. Cirque du Soleil is one example of a growing trend – an animal-free circus. A list of animal-free circuses can be found at Another positive trend is protecting animals that appear in movies.

When a movie rolls the credit -“No animals were harmed in the making of the movie”, one can be assured that this is true. American Humane Film/TV unit monitors about 1,000 movies, commercials and TV shows in the US each year. American Humane’s role in protecting animals in movies, which began in the 1920’s, was not accepted easily and they were often forced off of movie sets with guns. Eventually, protecting animals became part of the Haze code, which regulated morality in films. When the Haze code was disbanded in the 1970’s, American Humane Film/TV staff members were not welcome on movie sets once again. In the late 1970’s the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) welcomed animal actors into their organization and now animals actors continue to be protected under SAG. Currently, these guidelines are very stringent, even more so than USDA regulations. American Humane only monitors American movies, filmed in both the US and overseas, but they hope to eventually work in other parts of the world, where the safety of animals is often overlooked.

(Jone Boneman, personal communications, Feb 5th, 2008) Well produced film and television programs, which use humanely trained animal actors working in supervised conditions can be educational as well as entertaining. One example is the 1983 Oscar nominated film “Never Cry Wolf,” based on the true story of Farley Mowat, a government researcher, who was sent to research the "menace" of wolves in the north. Through this experience, he learns the true beneficial and positive nature of the species. Set in the Canadian tundra, Mowat sets out to collect evidence of the harm the wolf population was allegedly perpetrating on the caribou herds. In his struggle to survive in that difficult environment he studies the wolves and realizes that the old beliefs about wolves and their threat were inaccurate. Furthermore, he learns that humans represent a far greater threat to the land and to wolves, a species which plays an important role in the ecosystem of the north. The wolves filmed in this movie were well trained performing animals. The film “Gorillas in the Mist” brought the wonderful work of Dian Fosse to a wide audience and introduced the world to the intricate relationships and emotions of gorillas in the wild.

Real gorillas were used in this film wherever possible. In some scenes, where using a real gorilla would have proven difficult, actors in gorilla suits were used. No one will ever forget “Born Free” and the lives of Elsa and the pride. Real lions, and their complicated social interactions and pride hierarchy was brought to life for a wide audience who may not have ever seen lions in the wild before. There are many other educational films and television programs which accurately represent animals while utilizing animal actors. Such works can advance knowledge of animals and raise awareness of their lives and needs. Ties to the Philanthropic Sector A host of organizations in the United States and across the world came into being to prevent cruelty to animals. These organizations differ in their focus from companion animals, wild animals, performing animals, farmed animals, etc. Each of these types of animals may be involved in the entertainment industry in a variety of ways. Key Related Ideas Animal Welfare: the compassion and respect due animals as living, responsive beings. Animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans, and this is not to be left to the compassionate impulses of humans, but is an entitlement that must be protected under the law.

Agility training - Dog agility involves a trained dog running through an obstacle course that includes jumps, hurdles and weave poles among others. While it may seems like an easy task for a dog to complete, there is a lot of training involved. However, dogs who participate in agility training seem to enjoy it and are often rewarded with praise and treats. Agility training is one form of entertainment that both the dogs and the audience enjoy. Dog and cat shows, or conformation shows as they formally know, are very popular and like agility training, can be enjoyable to both the dogs/cats and the audience. One of the most famous shows, the Westminster Dog Show, is broadcast nationally and involves much pomp and circumstance. These shows often highlight a various breeds’ characteristic and can be educational to the public who is interested in bringing a dog or cat into their family. Important Beings Related to the Topic Tom Rider—Former Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers Circus and Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus employee who was a whistleblower concerning the circus’ treatment of elephants. Visit to find profiles of many animal acts who were rescued from animal shelters across the country.

Roll over Freud: Rise of animal therapy - CNN.com Roll over Freud: Rise of animal therapy By Sheena McKenzie, CNN Updated 9:07 AM ET, Fri November 30, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Talk to the animals – Animals have long been used in therapy. Renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who died in 1939, believed dogs helped his patients relax during sessions. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Healing horses – A youngster at Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship in Devon shares a special moment with one of the clinic's five horses. Equine therapy may help people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, phobias, anger issues and trauma. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Field of study – Equine therapy has grown in popularity in the UK in recent years and is now a member of the British Association for Counseling & Psychotherapy (BACP).

Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Horsing around – For patients coming from traumatic home lives, the fresh air of the great outdoors and chance to socialize, are just as much a part of the healing process as the horses themselves. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Romney's remedy – Anne Romney, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, helped boost equine therapy's public profile this year when she revealed it helped her overcome depression. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Price's ponies – British TV celebrity Katie Price, pictured launching a range of equestrian wear, has spoken of the therapeutic benefits of riding horses. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Swayze's stable – Patrick Swayze and wife Lisa Niemi, bred Arabian horses at their multimillion dollar ranch in the San Fernando Valley. The actor, who died in 2009, said the horses offered a relief from Hollywood superficiality.

Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy A golden opportunity – The U.S.'s Jonathan Wentz competes in the dressage event at the London 2012 Paralympics. Many competitors said they became involved in riding as part of their treatment for physical disabilities. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Rollover Sigmund Freud: Rise of equine therapy Animal instinct – Terminally ill patients at a hospice in Colorado enjoy the company of a visiting llama, used to boost morale and wellbeing. Hide Caption Throughout history, humans have relied on animals as a way of improving mental health Equine therapy has grown in popularity in Britain in recent years Psychoanalysts claim it can help depression, bipolar disorder and anger issues Hard evidence remains scarce, largely anecdotal Beasts of burden, winners of wars and beloved as the sport of Kings -- now horses are being used to cure the ills of modern life. From the time ancient Egyptians worshiped feline deities, animals have been viewed as a source of strength and healing.

Renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud believed dogs helped his patients relax during sessions, while the Soviets used dolphins to treat people with mental health disorders in the 1980s. Today, rabbits, guinea pigs and even the humble gold fish are used to promote a sense of responsibility and wellbeing everywhere from the classroom to the retirement home. And an increasing number of mental health patients are turning to horses as a legitimate form of therapy -- claiming impressive results where traditional counseling has failed. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH First lady of Australian horse racing 03:49 No longer viewed as simply a crackpot alternative remedy for the rich and famous, equine therapy has gained a devoted following of psychoanalysts who say it has the power to heal people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, phobias, anger issues and trauma. "It used to be seen as ridiculous, an airy fairy treatment used by celebrities with drug and alcohol addictions," said Mike Delaney, clinical director at Leading Equine Assisted Therapy (LEAP) , based in Gloucestershire, south west England. "But attitudes have changed a lot.

We're now a part of the British Association for Counseling & Psychotherapy (BACP) for example." Read: A weighty issue -- Hidden world of jockey heaving bowls The wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney helped boost equine therapy's public profile this year when she revealed it helped her overcome depression, after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 14 years ago. Ann Romney, who co-owns a horse which competed in the London 2012 Olympic dressage competition, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that horses had motivated her to get out of bed, even in her darkest days. Across the pond, equine therapy is going from strength to strength, with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) , originally based in the U.S., training more than 1,500 therapists in Britain last year. The UK arm says they are now seeing hundreds of new inquiries, compared to just a handful a few years ago. Read: Melbourne Cup memories -- The legs that stopped a nation Patients include domestic abuse victims, young offenders and servicemen suffering post traumatic stress -- often turning to their four-legged friends after finding traditional counseling failed them.

Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) usually involves the patient interacting with a horse, alongside a professional councilor and horse handler. Activities might include discussing the horse's character, teaching them to jump over obstacles, grooming and cleaning out stables. "For a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence, getting the horse to run around her in a circle, may seem simple, but it's a very powerful thing," Delaney, also clinical director at the Bayberry Clinic in Oxfordshire, in south east England, said. "Building a relationship with the horse and getting it to respect them, really builds self esteem and confidence." For people who find traditional psychoanalysis too intense, equine therapy can be a way of opening up dialogue with a councilor. "The thought of sitting in a room opposite a councilor and telling them the same story again is too much for some people, particularly children," Delaney said. "But when a horse pays attention to them, they get that sense of trust and love back. It enables traditional therapy to happen, rather than being its own thing." Read: Style bible's most controversial model? However, scientific evidence of its effectiveness remains thin on the ground, and is mostly anecdotal.

"I've never heard of a medical referral for equine therapy," Psychotherapist Robin Walton, a member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) , said. "But factors such as being outside and freed from the confines of an office could be tremendously beneficial for the relationship between the patient and therapist." Delaney recently completed a study in which 40 teenagers from sexually abusive backgrounds were treated with equine therapy once-a-week. The youngsters, aged between nine and 14-years-old, undertook horsemanship training and counselling as part of their eight-week treatment. "The change in their behavior was tangible," Delaney said. "The first week they were looking at the ground, too scared to interact with people. "By the end of the last week they were hugging people, dealing with their anger and managing their emotions." For patients coming from traumatic home lives, the fresh air of the great outdoors and chance to socialize, are just as much a part of the healing process as the horses themselves, added Delaney.

A 14-year-old girl who was able to overcome her agoraphobia -- a fear of being in public places - was also highlighted by Dr Hannah Burgon, managing director at Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship in Devon, south east England. "She had a love of horses, which was the motivating factor for getting her to leave the house," Dr Burgon said. "It helped her build up a relationship with the psychotherapist and work through a lot of issues." "She's now able to go on shopping trips with her mother and recently went on her first family holiday." However, therapy doesn't come cheap, with a 90-minute session at Sirona costing £82, usually run once-a-week over a six-week course. Read: Whykickamoocow -- The secret of silly horse names The healing power of horses goes back to an age-old relationship with man, according to Burgon. "We've got this innate connection to horses. They've been our transport, our friends, our beasts of burden, we've won wars on them," she said. "They've very social animals and the emotional part of their brain is very large. But there's also a powerful element to them.

They're not domestic like dogs or cats, they're born wild and have to be tamed. You have to earn their trust." For some people who have come up against hardship, equine therapy may be just the thing to help them get back in the saddle of life. bullfighting | spectacle | Britannica.com Bullfighting Alternative Titles: combats des taureaux, corrida de toros, corrida de touros, tauromachy, tauromaquia Related Topics Manolete Bullfighting, Spanish la fiesta brava (“the brave festival”) or corrida de toros (“running of bulls”), Portuguese corrida de touros, French combats de taureaux, also called tauromachy, the national spectacle of Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries, in which a bull is ceremoniously fought in a sand arena by a matador and usually killed. Bullfighting is also popular in Portugal and southern France , though in the former, where the bull is engaged by a bullfighter on horseback, and in many bullrings in the latter, it is illegal to kill the bull in the arena .

A kind of bullfighting is popular in Korea, Japan , and some countries of the Middle East , but this form pits bull against bull. Bloodless bullfights, in which the bull is caped but unharmed and its killing only simulated, are popular in many countries and in several U.S. states, but they are often denigrated by bullfighting traditionalists. A bullfight during the Fiesta de San Fermín in Pamplona, Spain. Owen Franken—Corbis Bullfighting has long generated commentary and controversy. To anthropologists and psychologists, the corrida has signified everything from a confrontation between culture and nature to a symbolic exposition of gender, sexual, or filial relations. In centuries past, clerics assailed bullfighting for degrading the work ethic and diverting public attention away from the church and prayer. Many observers—from Renaissance popes and Bourbon kings to contemporary animal-rights activists—have seen bullfighting as barbaric, as a perversion of the Christian principle of animal stewardship .

Others have blamed the spectacle on a debased elite class, which historically held corridas in commemoration of royal weddings and to celebrate the graduation of doctoral students; in the latter case, graduates adorned a wall of their college with the blood of the bull, a tradition that lingers today but in the form of applying red paint, not blood. To still others, blame for the bullfight lies not with a decadent elite but with mass popular culture’s taste for bread-and-circuses kinds of entertainment. To many Spanish intellectuals (especially to the Generation of 1898 , which grappled with the meaning of the loss of the Spanish empire, and to many intellectuals after the death of Francisco Franco in 1975), the corrida has been a window into the soul of Spain and its people, an unrelenting reminder of the so-called Spanish “problem”: Spain’s supposed rejection of the Enlightenment and the modern world, a refusal to “Europeanize,” which hurts Spain’s standing in world opinion and its stature in the European community of civilized nations.

The European Union , however, has declared bullfighting a protected activity under the heading of “national culture.” Similar Topics pigeon racing Bullfighting’s defenders are as passionate as its detractors, and they have hailed from all social and economic classes. Jean-Jacques Rousseau credited bullfighting with keeping alive a certain “vigour” in the Spanish people. Other defenders point out that the corrida employs hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and generates much-needed revenue for private charities and state welfare agencies, not unlike the role gambling and lotteries play in many nonbullfighting countries. To still others, bullfighting is but another form of contemporary commercialized mass entertainment—less violent than professional boxing, less injurious than American football, and less cruel to the animal than the ignoble fate that awaits the slaughterhouse steer. Many bullfighters take a more philosophical view and see in the bullring a morality play of sorts, a rare microcosm of the world in its various manifestations .

As described by Conchita Cintrón , the most acclaimed female bullfighter of modern times, Within its small circle one finds life, death, ambition, despair, success, failure, faith, desperation, valor , cowardliness, generosity, and meanness—all condensed into the actions of a single afternoon or even a single moment. The classic Spanish type of bullfighting, which this article largely deals with, is often characterized as a sport, but it is not considered as such by its supporters and enthusiasts. While most sporting events value victory over method, in modern bullfighting the method is the essence of the spectacle. Its supporters see it as an art form not unlike ballet but with one major difference. As bullfighting aficionado Ernest Hemingway famously said in Death in the Afternoon (1932), “Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death.” Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales Six bulls and three bullfighters participate in the traditional bullfight, each matador fighting two bulls; a variation on this is the mano-a-mano bullfight, which is a duel between two matadors, each killing two or three bulls.

(Almost every year, in a bravura gesture, a top matador, such as Joselito in years past or El Juli in the early 21st century, will kill all six bulls.) The bulls are paired and assigned to each matador through a random drawing of lots (el sorteo) by the matadors’ assistants on the morning of the late afternoon fights. The bullring is known as the plaza de toros. Bulls used in bullfights are not common meat or milk cattle but a special, distinctly savage breed, which has been bred for centuries for the sole purpose of attacking people in the arena. Mature fighting bulls can weigh as much as 1,300–1,600 pounds (600–700 kg). Sports: Fact or Fiction? The Spanish bullfighting season, la temporada, starts at the end of March and continues until early October. The top bullfighters then go to Lima for the monthlong Peruvian season before heading to Mexico City in December and January. The aspirants, los novilleros, perform in Mexico only in the summer, whereas in Spain they perform from March to October.

History Origins and early forms Bullfighting’s exact origins are lost to history, though the spectacle seems to have many antecedents . Historians have long debated the relative weight to give to these various influences, and, for every historian who sees the seeds of the spectacle sown in Moorish Spain, there is a counter voice discoursing on the bull cults of ancient Mesopotamia or highlighting the prenuptial bull-taunting ritual common in medieval Spain. What is likely the case is that modern bullfighting hails from a confluence of influences, rituals, and cultures , many of which are thousands of years old. The excavations at Knossos on the island of Crete, for example, have revealed ancient Minoan frescoes (c. 1500 bce) depicting games with bulls in which young people of both sexes are shown grabbing the animals’ horns and vaulting over them. Toreador Fresco, Late Minoan painting from Knossos, Crete, depicting … The Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images Connect with Britannica Open Door policy For 600 years the bullfighting spectacle consisted of a mounted aristocrat armed with a lance.

During the reign of Philip IV (1621–65), the lance was discarded in favour of the rejoncillo (short spear), and leg armour was introduced to protect the mounted bullfighters. As knowledge of the nobles’ prowess spread beyond their domains, they were invited to competitive jousts in provincial tournaments. However, the nobles’ performance was hampered by their unfamiliarity with the spirit of bulls from other areas, causing their lackeys (assistants on foot)—who daringly maneuvered the bulls by dragging capes before the animals—to gain greater experience and fame. Further changing the character of bullfighting was the secession of the house of Bourbon , which rose to power in Spain with Philip V (1700–46) and which disapproved of bullfighting. But while the aristocracy gradually abandoned bullfighting, the public enthusiastically continued the spectacle. Any nobles still bullfighting now performed on foot and relegated to their former foot assistants the subordinate role on horseback, that of picador (whose exact role is discussed later). The opposite development occurred in Portugal.

While mounted bullfighting waned in Spain and was transformed by the masses into the foot-based corrida common today, equestrian bullfighting was finely honed into an art and a national specialty in Portugal. The main performers in a Portuguese bullfight are the rejoneadores (lancers mounted on magnificently trained horses) and forcados (daring young “bullgrabbers” who, after the bull has been lanced, provoke the animal into charging and then, one by one from a single-file line, jump on the charging bull and wrestle it to a standstill). The objective of this type of bullfighting is not to kill the bull but to demonstrate the extraordinary ability of the horses—which dramatically charge and dodge the bull at breakneck speeds and are almost never injured—and the skill and bravery of the bullfighters and bullgrabbers.

In these spectacles the bull’s horns are padded, blunted, or tipped with brass balls, and, though the bull is indeed lanced (which takes great skill, because the bullfighter must command a horse with knee pressure and not the reins while leaning over and plunging the lance or darts into the bull), the bull is not killed in the ring but is dispatched after being returned to the corral. The rejoneadores have traditionally had “Don” (or “Doña,” for women) attached to their names, which denotes an aristocratic rank and recalls the early days of bullfighting when nobles deemed dismounted kills as beneath their dignity. This form of mounted bullfighting is called rejoneo . A matador in a Portuguese bullring, stabbing the bull with his spear. © Kit Houghton/Corbis By the 18th century, bullfighting’s popularity had grown sufficiently to make bull breeding financially profitable, and herds were bred for specific characteristics. In fact, many of the royal houses of Europe competed to present the fiercest specimens in the ring. The lack of a spirited native stock of bulls is one reason why corridas never fully took root in Italy and France.

The rise of professional bullfighting One of the greatest of the early professional bullfighters was Joaquín Rodríguez Costillares (born in Sevilla in 1729). Known as the father of modern (foot-based) bullfighting, Costillares is credited with creating the pomp and pageantry associated with the modern, commercialized corrida, including the basic cape pass called the veronica, the matador’s tradition of wearing an elaborately embroidered costume, and the most common method of killing the bull—the volapié, in which the bull is transfixed by the cape held low to the ground while the bullfighter lunges forward (as the bull charges) and with the right hand plunges the sword between the bull’s shoulder blades. Costillares’s rival was Pedro Romero of Ronda in Andalusia, who reputedly killed 5,600 bulls during a 28-year career and popularized use of the estoque, the sword still used in the kill, and the muleta , the small red flannel cloth draped over a 22-inch (56-cm) stick that forms the small cape used in the bullfight’s final act.

Romero was famous for executing the more dangerous, dramatic, and difficult of the two methods of killing the bull—the recibiendo, in which the matador stands still and receives the charging bull on the sword. These men represent the two classic “schools” of bullfighting, the Ronda school noted for a simpler, more sober approach to the corrida when compared with the more flamboyant style popular in Sevilla. In all these early corridas, the kill was the pivotal point of the spectacle, and if the kill could be executed after only a few cape passes, so much the better. This changed over time, and the matador’s ability to work the bull, to master the animal, and to exhibit the graceful arte de torero began to be appreciated as much as, if not more than, the actual kill.

( Juan Belmonte , whose career extended from 1910 to 1935, was largely responsible for this transformation.) It was about this time, in the late 18th century, that painter Francisco de Goya (1746–1828), who had sketched scores of bullfighting scenes in his La tauromaquia series, designed a distinctive professional uniform for bullfighters (worn only on commemorative gala occasions in Goya-style corridas, or corridas goyescas). Performers also began using a net to hold back their shoulder-length hair , later tying it in a knot at the base of the skull for protection in falls when they were tossed by the bull. This hairstyle later developed into the satin-covered semispherical cork headpiece and short queue, or pigtail, which became the distinguishing mark of the profession. A kind of pigtail was the caste mark of gladiators who fought bulls in the Colosseum of ancient Rome, and it is often emulated today by this false braid (coleta) worn by contemporary bullfighters.

(A matador retiring is still said to be “cutting the pigtail.”) After the introduction of railways, the plazas de toros in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America (where the conquistadores introduced corridas in the early 1500s) greatly multiplied. In fact, long before football (soccer) and baseball stadiums were built, bullrings had become a staple of Spanish and Latin American life. The corridas in the New World served many purposes. For some they were a training ground for novice bullfighters and matadors of the second rank; for others to this day they are a source of lucrative contracts during the Spanish off-season (November through February). Along with the expansion of the corrida around the world came increased concern about fan behaviour. Although exhibiting nothing like the hooliganism often associated with contemporary football fans, bullfighting crowds could historically be volatile. Their reputation for rowdiness was such that, in the 19th century, regulations were often passed to prohibit the throwing of fruit, sticks, stones—even dead animals—into the ring. Certain crowd behaviour , in fact, is commonly associated with certain bullrings.

According to the stereotypes , the crowds in Sevilla are refined and sophisticated, sometimes unnervingly quiet, concerned above all with the aesthetic of the spectacle; in Madrid they are serious, severe, and critical, allowing for few musical interludes by the corrida bands and as demanding of a clean kill as of a graceful cape pass; and in Bilbao and Pamplona they are festive, raucous, and unpredictable. Bullfighting at the turn of the 21st century While football remains the most popular spectator sport on the Iberian Peninsula and in Latin America, bullfighting continues to draw considerable crowds, despite the organized campaigns to ban it. In 1996, for example, some 40 million spectators attended bullfights and bull-related festivals. There were a record 650 fights in Spain, in which some 3,900 bulls were killed, and the Spanish public spent some 160 billion pesetas (U.S. $1.4 billion) to watch the corridas that year; bullfighting employed 200,000 people, more than 1 percent of the workforce.

Corridas in Mexico, however, declined in recent decades, and growing intolerance of bullfighting in the Catalonia autonomous community of Spain led it in July 2010 to become the first mainland Spanish region to ban bullfighting; the Canary Islands had done so in 1991. The Catalonian ban, which went into effect on January 1, 2012, was significant in that the region—unlike the Canary Islands—has a long bullfighting history, and its capital, Barcelona, was once home to three bullfighting rings. That a place so steeped in the culture of bullfighting would ban it reflects the extent of the disconnect from the spectacle’s tradition felt by a growing number of Spaniards. The ban was overturned by the Constitutional Court of Spain in October 2016. The ruling stated that Catalonia could regulate bullfighting and enact specific measures but could not outright ban the practice. However, Catalonian politicians vowed to continue to keep bullfighting out of their community despite the ruling.

Activists outside Catalonia’s parliament building demonstrating against bullfighting, Barcelona, … © Natursports/Shutterstock.com Partly because of tourism and television (in Spain and many Latin American countries, numerous bullfights are televised each week), there are actually many more corridas today than in Hemingway’s era. An interesting anomaly is the small but ardent group of English, French, and American aficionados . There are several bullfighting clubs (peñas) in Great Britain and a dozen in the United States who meet regularly, show films, review videotaped corridas, contribute taurine items to their Web sites and newsletters, and organize trips to Mexico, Spain, France, and Latin America to see their favourite matadors perform. Successful bullfighters perform more than 100 times a season and become highly paid media stars. A case in point at the end of the 20th century was the popular Julián López Escobar, called El Juli , a Spaniard born in 1982 who began his professional career at age 15.

At that young age the prodigy was awarded ears and tail (an honour discussed below) in Mexico City’s arena, and he had become the highest-paid matador in history by 2000, at age 17. Though severely gored several times, he continued his career on the Iberian Peninsula and in Latin America . El Juli at a bullfight in Barcelona, 2010. © Natursports/Shutterstock.com Bulls and bullrings Perceptions of bulls are often culturally circumscribed. North Americans, some say, are too urbanized, suburbanized, and alienated from the ancient association of the bull with the divine to appreciate the animal’s many virtues, which is why, in English, semantic associations involving bulls tend to be negative, signifying only the brutish and the coarse. Spanish and Latin American cultures, on the other hand, still revere the animal for his grace, agility, and controlled strength. Bullring, Maracaibo, Venezuela.

© Wilfredo Rodríguez (A Britannica Publishing Partner) As ganaderos (bull breeders) like to say, “Bulls get their size and build from their fathers, but their hearts come from their mothers.” The bulls used in corridas are invariably of pedigreed lineage raised on special ranches (ganaderías), the most celebrated being those of Miura, from Sevilla, which have killed more famous matadors, including the great Manolete , than any others. Shortly after weaning, vaccinating, and branding, the yearling males are tested in the open fields, and only those displaying the proper ferocity are retained for future corridas. Some of remarkable pedigree and fine physical construction are separated and later put through a series of tests—by mounted men, never by bullfighters on foot with capes—designed to prove the animal’s bravery. If acceptable, such bulls are then used exclusively for the arena; if not, they are sent to the slaughterhouse. At two to three years the heifers are tested in a small ring at the ranch through all phases of the corrida, and only those deemed acceptable are kept for breeding; those rejected are also sent to the slaughterhouse.

Royalty used to attend these tests ( tientas), which often became social events. During a tienta a ranch may test scores of animals over the course of several days, during which novice or retired bullfighters might perform with young breeding cows, star matadors might practice new maneuvers, and amateur matadors and members of the literati might test their courage in the ring, usually with heifers. Many matadors have been seriously wounded by heifers that were little more than calves. The great Antonio Bienvenida, for example, was killed by a small heifer on his ranch in 1975. Bulls are never used a second time in the corrida. This is because their memory is remarkable, and former experience would make subsequent fights too dangerous for the matadors to execute their graceful capework, which is the main reason fans come to the arena. All cattle are colour-blind.

The colour red has been adopted for the muleta (the small cape used in the bullfight’s final act) since it minimizes the appearance of blood and other stains and produces a more colourful spectacle; the front of the large work cape (or capote, used in the first act of the bullfight) is magenta and the inside yellow or blue, and the bulls charge either colour just as readily as they do the red muleta. (It is motion that provokes the bull’s charge.) Like racehorses, all fighting bulls are named, generally taking the name of their mother; e.g., the mother of Islero (the bull that killed Manolete) was Islera. There were some 600 bullrings in Spain at the beginning of the 21st century, from those in Madrid and Barcelona, seating about 20,000 spectators each, to those in small towns accommodating mere hundreds. The size of the arena floor never varies more than a few yards, those at higher altitudes being smaller than those at sea level to help compensate for altitude fatigue.

The Plaza México in Mexico City seats approximately 55,000 spectators and is the largest bullring in the world; the 18th-century Plaza de Acho in Lima, Peru , is one of the oldest arenas; and Sevilla’s Real Maestranza and Madrid’s Plaza Monumental, known as Las Ventas, are the two most prestigious rings for bullfighters to perform in. Spain’s oldest bullring (c. 1785) is the Neoclassical stone arena in Ronda and is still used. Many of the accoutrements commonly associated with contemporary sporting events—food vendors, program sellers, and billboard advertisements—can be found at the corrida, and some bullrings also house bullfighting museums. An aerial view of Mexico City’s Azul Stadium (left), home to one of the city’s professional … © Danny Lehman/Corbis Spain’s oldest bullring (c. 1785), the Neoclassical arena in Ronda.

John Elk III—Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images Page 1 of 3 bullfighting - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The spectacle of bullfighting pits a person against a charging bull in a large arena surrounded by spectators. The main bullfighter is called the matador. Aided by a group of assistants, called the cuadrilla, the matador goads the bull into charging at him. A bullfight is relentless. If a matador is injured, another replaces him, and the matador normally kills the bull at the end of each match. To followers of bullfighting, the contest between man and beast demonstrates human skill and courage as does no other sport. However, many people believe bullfighting is barbaric and inhumane. Today, bullfighting is illegal in many places. Article Contributors Cheetah Facts | Big Cat Rescue Big Cat Rescue Genus: Acinonyx species:Jubatus The word “Cheetah” is derived from the Hindi word “Chita” meaning “spotted one”. The Cheetah is the fastest land animal reaching speeds of 45 – 70 mph.

Cheetahs have also been known to swim, although they do not like to. The Cheetah is not one of the Great Cats, because it does not have a floating Hyoid bone in its neck it can not roar, therefore it is a Lesser Cat. Cheetahs have been considered through out history to be a sleek and beautiful cat. Cheetahs have been in captivity for over 5,000 years and were first tamed by the Sumarians. By far the Cheetah has been considered the easiest of the exotic cats to tame. The Cheetahs were used as hunting partners for sport in Asia prior to Assyrian Dynasty in Libya, during the reign of the Kings. Their keen eyesight played a major role, which aided in the hunt. Cheetahs have also been pets to many people dating back to such historical figures as Gengis Khan and Akbar the Great of India and Mogul Emperor. Akbar (1555-1600 AD) had a collection of an estimated 6,000 Cheetah, which only produced one litter each year. 25% of Cheetah in captivity will breed more than once.

This along with several other studies has proven the Cheetah does not breed well in captivity. Sub-species The Asiatic Cheetah-Acinonyx venaticus, was hunted to near extinction by the European and Asian royalty. Their beautiful pelt was a symbol of wealth and was worn proudly. Although the pelt was not coveted as that of the Leopard, these cats were almost completely destroyed. Today only an estimated 50 of this sub-species exist in small isolated groups scattered throughout Eastern Iran. The King Cheetah was once considered it own species, however now it has been proven to be nothing more than a genetic mutation. King Cheetah originated from Central Africa, where they were used for hunting. These Cheetah were part of a breeding program to acquire genetic mutations, such as fur patterns, size, and rare and unusual color forms, with no regard to the genetic integrity of the species. This African Cheetah can only be found naturally in Zimbabwe and South Africa Transvaal Province providing that both of the parents carry the recessive gene. Appearance The Cheetah is a tall and elegant cat in appearance.

Large chest, narrow waist, long thin legs, and a slim well muscled build this animal was definitely made for speed. The Cheetahs coat varies from a tawny to golden tone covered in a pattern of solid black spots averaging .75″-1.5″ in diameter. The Cheetahs beautiful pelt became more protected in 1970, when the fur trade regulations were strengthened. The fur is coarse to the touch not silky as it appears. The Cheetahs long thick tail has spots, which turn into rings and at the end is tipped with white. The throat and abdomen are a creamy white in color. The Cheetah has a small head with high set eyes and short rounded ears tipped with white on the back. The most well known characteristic is however the distinct black “tear mark”, which runs from the inside corner of the eye down to the corner of the mouth. Cubs are born with a mantle of fur running from the back of the neck down to the rump. This clever disguise aids in camouflaging the kittens in the high grass while they are following their mother.

This mane like feature begins to disappear at the age of 3 months, but still remains visible at 2 years of age. The fur color of a newborn cub is medium gray, which gradually evolves into the adult colors by the age of 4 months. The King Cheetah has a fur pattern mutation, which turned the small rounded spots into large connected black patches. This mutation is caused from a lack of genetic diversity. Size The Cheetah weighs an average of 83-145 lbs., making them about the same weight as that of a leopard. The length of a Cheetah is approximately 70″-86″ from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. Being an extremely tall cat the Cheetah stands at an average of 32″ tall. Newborn cubs weigh an average of 5.25-10.5 oz. The body length of a cub is approximately 11.8″, which may vary. Habitat The Cheetah prefers to live in open grasslands, savannas, dense vegetation, and sometimes even mountainous terrain.

The open land of grasslands and semi-desert better accommodates the Cheetahs way of hunting, which is running as opposed to the stalk and pounce method. Namibia is home to the largest population of Cheetah at about 2,500 cats. Due to the continuous growth of farmland and expanding development 95% of the Namibian Cheetah live on cultivated farmland. Distribution The Cheetah was once widely distributed throughout Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Asia Minor, and even East of India. Fossils were recorded to be found from China, Northern India, Southern Europe, and as far as the Western United States. Sadly now the species is burning out and can be found sparsely scattered amongst Namibia, Kenya, Asia, as well as a handful of other small countries. Reproduction The Cheetah above all else is the most reproductive cat. Why then is it so endangered? The answer is two-fold. Cheetah cubs often fall prey to Lions, Jackals, Birds of Prey, and Hyenas, as the mother must leave them behind while hunting for food.

Even if the mother was near, she could not fend off an animal as large as a Lion or Hyena, the Cheetah was built for running not fighting. 90% of Cheetahs born die with in the first 3 months, 50% of which are destroyed by predators. The other 40% fall victim to lack of genetic diversity. This is the second reason for their inability to survive. This genetic peril is responsible for weak and underdeveloped immune systems. Disease and illness attack a weak immune system, which in turn causes death. Most cubs do not even make it past 1 month old when this is the case. After a gestation period of 90-95 days a female Cheetah will give birth to a litter of 3-5 cubs. The largest litter recorded in captivity was 8. The male Cheetah does not participate in the rearing of the cubs. The mother may leave the cubs for as long as 48 hours in order to hunt for enough food to sustain her in a lactating state. If the food supply is too scarce the mother may abandon the cubs, so as to maintain her way of life.

Also if the litter is lost with in the first few weeks the female will come into estrus in the next few days. If this is not the case the mother will return and move the cubs from one location to another to better hide the smell of her young from predators. Sometimes the mother will even wait until night falls to return to her cubs, so that she is not as easily followed. Cubs The cubs are usually weaned at 6-8 weeks and will then leave the den and follow the mother from then on. If a young cub loses its original family, due to some great misfortune, it will find another family and join them despite the ill will from the new mother and being out cast by the new brothers and sisters. At 5 months old, the cubs are playing with one another, sharpening their stalking, chasing, and wrestling skills in a playful manner. At 6 months the mother Cheetah will fetch live prey injuring it and then giving it to the cubs so they may practice the art of the kill. At 8 months the cubs are chasing inappropriately large prey such as Giraffes.

A Cheetah will not be a very skilled and efficient hunter until about 3 years of age. Cheetah cubs kill less than 10% of the prey, which the family feeds on. At 15-24 months the cubs will leave the mother, but may stay together for several more months. Young females will leave her brothers when they reach sexual maturity. Young males will travel far from parents and will lay claim to a territory as large as 300-800 square miles. Young females will stay closer to home and may even overlap territory with the mother. Social System Female Cheetahs are solitary animals except when rearing a litter. Mothers with cubs will usually stay with in close proximity of one another. Females only come in contact with other Cheetahs in order to mate. Males on the other hand will sometimes form coalitions of 2-3 in order to defend more land. These coalitions are mostly formed between brothers, but sometimes include outsiders. 30 % of coalitions are unrelated. Males are not territorial towards each other, but are in fact towards other males or coalitions.

Due to coalitions fighting against one another the ratio has dropped to one male for every two females. Communication Cheetahs communicate in many different ways. Some of these are through vocalizations such as purrs, bleats, barks, growls, hisses, and a high pitched chirping sound. Another way to communicate is through marking. A Cheetah will mark their territory by urinating or by cheek and chin rubbing. Saliva that is secreted contains the same chemical information about the animals, as does the urine. Cheetahs will mark territory so that they can better avoid one another. Hunting The Cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching a top speed of 70 mph! The Cheetah however can only run for short sprints of up to 300 yards. These sprints will usually last for 20 seconds, but rarely ever reach a full minute. Non-retractable claws and tough pads on their feet closely resemble that of a dog. These features offer better traction to get to those high speeds. A long heavy tail acts as a rudder for making those sharp turns while in pursuit.

The Cheetah’s long fluid body is set over extremely light bones, this accompanied with large nasal passages, and oversized lungs, liver, heart and adrenals enable rapid physical response. This response is imperative to accommodate the Cheetah’s way of hunting. A strong spring-like spine gives added reach to the Cheetah’s long legs. A stride is the measured distance between successive imprints of the same paw. With the added reach given by the spine 1 stride can stretch as far as 7-8 meters. The Cheetah averages 4 strides per second or 1 stride per .28 seconds as the horse averages 1 stride per .44 seconds and can reach top speeds of 43 mph. The Cheetah can out run the horse going from 0-45 mph in 2 seconds flat, though this will not very last very long. The horse would inevitably win in the long run. Cheetahs are equipped with several special features that are crucial in successful and efficient hunting. Binocular vision is a very important asset since Cheetahs rely on sight to hunt as opposed to scent. The retinal fovea of the eye is of an elongated shape, giving a sharp wide-angle view.

This aspect of the eye is also adapted for speed. The dark “tear marks” on the Cheetahs face reduce glare from the bright sun also and aid in excellent vision. The Cheetahs will perch upon a fallen tree or rocky ledge to scope out the surroundings and potential prey. The Cheetah is also a very vocal animal. With the ability to mimic the calls of some birds, by displaying a high pitched chirping sound. When a bird falls for this deceiving call it will also fall prey to the sly Cheetah. The Cheetah is a carnivorous animal and a diurnal hunter, which means it hunts during the day usually early morning and late afternoon. Cheetahs are solitary hunters except when living in a coalition. When this is the case they will hunt in groups so that they can take down larger prey. Unlike the common misconception, the Cheetah will pick out animals that have strayed from the herd as a target, not necessarily the weak or old. After chasing down and catching the prey, the Cheetah suffocates larger animals with a bite to the jugular and holding for as long as 15-25 minutes.

Smaller animals are killed with a quick bite to the head usually killing them instantly. By this time the Cheetah is so tired from the chase that it must wait for as long as a half hour before consuming its meal, and could not fend off other predators, who might want to steal the Cheetah’s dinner. The Cheetah’s resting heart rate is approximately 120-170 beats per minute, while it’s heart rate after a chase is 200-250 beats per minute. The Cheetah’s resting breaths vary from 20-30 per minute depending on whether the Cheetah is in direct sunlight or in the shade, after a chase the Cheetah’s breaths per minute are 150-200! When done resting the Cheetah will quickly eat, as they can not defend their food from other predators for this reason they will not bury the food and come back for another meal. Half of the Cheetah’s hunts are successful, the other half are hard life lessons.

Diet The Cheetah’s diet consists of a wide range of prey from steenbok, rabbits, wildebeest calves, duikers, kudu, and impala to springbok, hartebeest, oryx, roan, sable, birds and warthog. The most preferred and most hunted by the cheetah however is the Thompson’s Gazelle. Something about these graceful animals just makes a Cheetah’s tummy roar! Cheetahs consume an average of 6-8 lbs. of food each day, and in some cases may go as long as 4-10 days with out water. Extinction Is Forever The Cheetah is considered Endangered in Appendix 1 to the Conservation Of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Humans have been proven to be the most feared predator by the Cheetah. Living space and adequate food supply is being robbed from these innocent creatures. Farmland is expanding into the Cheetah’s natural environment leaving the Cheetah to move on or be killed by paranoid farmers. A law was passed authorizing ranchers to shoot on sight any Cheetahs due to an alleged imposing threat to livestock.

In 1980 alone ranchers killed a reported 6,829 Cheetahs. Poachers also pose a threat to the Cheetah, whose pelt was coveted and was doomed to become a fad. In the 1960’s 1,500 Cheetah pelts each year were imported into the United States due to an accessory fad. It was considered hip and a sign of wealth to wear a Cheetah fur. The number of Cheetahs has consistently dropped every year since 1900. In 1900 there were over 100,000 Cheetahs, in 1970 the numbers plummeted to 20,000-25,000 Cheetahs, and to this day there are only 10,000 Cheetahs. One tenth of which live in captivity. Due to the unavailability of land and food and the dangerous threat brought on by ranchers and poachers the Cheetah’s lifespan in the wild is 4-6 years, where as in captivity the Cheetah will live to 10-15 years old.

The cheetah, which has suffered a dramatic 90 per cent decline over the past century, becoming extinct in 18 countries of its original range, with less than 10,000 adults surviving in Africa and a meagre 50 in Asia, mainly around Iran’s Kavir desert, due to severe habitat loss, over-hunting and poor breeding in captivity. November 2008 –The critically endangered cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, is set to obtain added international protection next week at a United Nations-backed conference seeking to strengthen conservation of species that often cross national borders. Felid TAG 2003 recommendation: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). After determining correct husbandry techniques for reproduction, cheetah populations have increased without the need for additional founders. Unfortunately, recent importations usually sought specimens of the “king” or “rex” color morpho-types which are not appropriate for conservation breeding. Some of these individuals have been imported without regard to genetic need and often related to individuals already in North America. The target population for cheetahs in North America is 300 individuals.

Since disease and stress are such prevalent causes for cheetah mortality, many of the new breedings will take place off zoo properties. How rare is this cat? The International Species Information Service lists 680 in zoos worldwide, with 227 being in the U.S. See more Cheetahs: Bestiality | Uncyclopedia | Fandom powered by Wikia edit Sexual Attraction To Animals Butterface (Everything looks good, Butterface!) Bestiality knows no age group. The mating of a nerd and a blue elephant can produce offspring but the face of the nerd will stay frozen after giving birth. For most, sexual attraction to animals begins around age 1 and hits its peak around the ages of 8-12, when children's cartoons are on. Who can honestly with hand on heart say they haven't furiously banged one out over Bugs Bunny or Scooby Doo in their younger years? Indeed, many subliminal references to animal sex have been subtly placed in popular children's nursery rhymes by evil bastards (in other words, The Chuckle Brothers ) intent on taking over the world and turning our kids into a bunch of horny raving zoophiles.

It is speculated that this sinister indoctrination from an early age is directly responsible for the rapid increase in popularity of Bestiality we see today. Some examples of these are "Nick nack paddy wack, give a dog a bone", "Mary had a little lamb", and "Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the kings horses and all the kings men, went and screwed each other senseless in the world's biggest animal-human orgy in the whole of history" (taken from the 1994 revised edition) Jeff Fredrickson had sex with his dog bitch. Attraction to animals usually continues at a steady pace as life goes on, with many men in their twenties owning up to having 'shagged a pig' or 'pulled some old moose' after a heavy night on the town, and some even confessing to 'marrying a complete dog'. There is a well-known saying "Life's a bitch and then you marry one", in recognition of the many marriages between humans and dogs.

edit The Legality of Bestiality As part of his new Labor Manifesto in 1997 BC, His Royal Majesty Tony Blair (aka ' cunt ') made it a requirement for all schools to teach animal sex education in classes. However some human rights groups expressed concern when in 1999 he went one step further, seeking new legislation which would effectively make Bestiality compulsory, and also make it illegal to have sex with another human . When asked to comment on this, Mr Blair simply said 'I make the rules, not you, now fuck off' Typical Welsh person enjoying their favourite pastime, sheep shagging . Indeed in some third-world countries such as Wales , sex with animals and cockhound dogs is not only legal but greatly encouraged so as to prevent certain species from extinction . However there are growing fears that certain animals are being favoured above others (ie sheep ), and this is leading to a radical imbalance in the country's animal population. The President of Wales Tom Jones recently said in a statement, 'I know sheep are sexy but for fucks sake can you try having it off with something else for a change, the fucking things are taking over' in relation to the Great Sheep Over-Population Crisis of 1912.

No one listened or cared. It is said in the holiest of holys that Danny Gonzalez of Santa Ana, California once fucked a Dodo bird. Or was it just the carcass of? edit Famous Animal Lovers Clinton's claims that he 'did not have sexual relations with that animal' were proved to be a lie via photo evidence. The Cockhound was found half-dead in bed with Hillary the next morning. Throughout the last century, history has been littered with people from all walks of life who like nothing more than to get down and get busy with members of another species. Notably, many of these people have been celebrities. The ridiculous Australian paedophile Rolf Harris is infamous not only for his well-documented adventures with the 'two little boys' but also his many perverted escapades with animals, most notably 'Animal Hospital' where he is given free reign to perform questionable acts on a variety of captive and helpless animals, even going so far as to film the whole thing for the entire world to see, the dirty old perv. But he is perhaps best remembered for being the first person to successfully impregnate and subsequently produce offspring from an animal, after tying a kangaroo down. Can y'guess what it was yit?

That fucking Rolfaroo of course. Almost as famous for his antics with those of another species is Terry Nutkins , who is composed entirely of a chocolate orange and some small testicles. He and fellow rapist Chris Packham (who gets his name from being a known fudge-packer) and asexual lesbian Michaela Strachan got together once a week to make a programme called The Really Wild Show where they kidnapped various animals at gunpoint and had really wild sex with them, until one or more of the participants passed out and they would then go to commercials. Other celebrities with a penchant for non-human loving include Sir Cliff Richard (aka 'the world's biggest twat' as voted for by readers of Time magazine every year ever) with his remarkable resume' of sexual acts with all manner of creatures great and small (mostly small to accommodate his tiny penis ), Phillip Schofield and Gordon the Gopher, The Queen and her Corgis, and Your Mom and literally any creature with a pulse (and sometimes even that is not necessary). Although in the west the death penalty is not sentenced to those sick twisted individuals who do it. There is a better solution that should be used.

in an ideal society you should either have them put in an asylum for there obviously insane acts or death by lions in an arena just like roman deathsport. the irony would be so funny. edit Bestiality in the Media A popular children's cartoon from the 80's Keen to capitalize on the new craze that was sweeping the world and also to make a shitload of money, the popular topic of humans with animals was seized upon by various media institutions who thought it was be a very appropriate idea to include content in their programmes related to Bestiality. Some even went as far as producing their own fictional soap operas and other programmes in which human/animal loving was the recurring theme. 'The Horny Sheep' was a cartoon about a gay sheep called Nigger who went round various public establishments and brothels in his quest to get laid. In each episode he always had many amusing obstacles to overcome but always succeeded and got a good seeing-to by the end of the show. A snapshot from the 2007 Bestiality world fair. Over the course of several serieses (serieses? That's not the right word is it?! What IS the right word for that???

Oh, fuck it), Nigger managed to get his end away with some of the finest pieces of man-meat in show-business, including Terry Wogan , Terry Wogan (again), Terry Wogan (again), Jonathan Ross , and Postman Pat to name but a few. The show made a permanent imprint in the psyche of children in the 80's, mostly thanks to its well-known catchphrase: 'Which one of you bitches want some Nigger cock?'. This was warmly received by many politically correct twats who saw nothing offensive or unsavoury whatsoever above it. A movie titled The Men Who Stare at Goats was released in 2009, documenting bestiality within the locker room of the St. Louis Rams . It starred (the aptly-named) Marc Bulger, whose Goa Tse scene with Victor the goat (from Ed, Edd n Eddy ) and a Rams football helmet garnered the movie six Oscars and three AVN awards. Other instances of media coverage of animal sex include The News At Ten, where Sir Trevor McDonald (the man who invented McDonalds ) had a ritual of ending the programme each night with the words: "And that's the news at ten.

Goodnight, I'm now off to go and screw a horse until it bleeds". Unfortunately he never actually allowed this act to be filmed, much to the dismay of his 10.7 billion viewers who complained day and night. Recently, a porn parody of "Dunston Checks In" has recently become a worldwide hit, even though it is illegal as hell. Pokemon trainer, Ash , directed this after his failure to make a porn parody of that Richard Pryor movie, "The Toy". The movie has many of the same plot elements (like you'd know the plot, judging if you have seen it or not!), but has a lot of monkey sex and a lot of monkey sex (felt like saying that again, I'm definite you'd understand this action). The movie even has Jason Alexander, who was in the movie in Due to the success of the movie, the U.N. are contemplating on making monkey sex an exception to bestiality. edit Why Bestiality is Best Two trailblazers in the art of bestiality explore the ultimate and exotic joys of insex.

Well first of all it feels really good, my dog likes it and my husband doesn't please me enough :) Here are the top ten reasons why Bestiality is the right choice to make when considering a sexual partner: 11. Animals are always consensual, never have to worry about rape charges. 10. It is incompletely legal (aka 'differently' legal: the politically correct definition might vary in different countries). 9. You can't catch STDs (unless you're screwing an AIDS-ridden bonobo or cat : yes, they can have it!). 8. You won't get pregnant, if you're a woman (unless you're a Minoan queen and you're getting at it with a bull). 7. You won't get pregnant, if you're a man (unless you're Ahnold Schwarzenafroamerecan). 6. Animals have no Mother-In-Law (humans do though - and as the M.I.L. defined as the mother of your partner, well, even animals have mothers, so you'll be having a non-human M.I.L. : yes, M.I.L.s are beasts). 5. No need for expensive gifts (really?

Have you checked the cost of cat food lately?) 4. No need for chat-up lines, having money, or pretending to be cool (really? See above). 3. It doesn't matter it you haven't showered or shaved and you smell like shit (actually this could be a problem, as the more you stink the more you will attract numerous animal partners, and this could lead to jealousy-related accidents, which aren't nice if your jealous partner is a panther or a tiger). 2. If you are particularly ugly, you won't need to rely on Orange sherbet any more to get laid. 1. Everyone does it. Yes, I mean everyone does it. Yes, even Your Mom . You know she does, because she is a filthy ho. Why are you looking at me like that?! How do you think YOU were made?! A girl had been arrested by having sex to a dog. Animals In Sport | Animal Cruelty | Horse Jumping | Circuses | Kids Sports | Information | Facts Hate 13 From camel racing to elephant polo, Kidzworld checks out animals and sports. Is it cruelty or just entertaining fun?

Animals in Sports - History Animals have been used in sports since the days of the Ancient Greeks and Romans who used horses for chariot races. Since then, humans have used animals in all kinds of sporting pasttimes, such as equestrian (horse jumping), polo, bull fighting and even camel racing! Animals in Sports - Riding, Fighting, Racing Rodeos - Rodeos have around since the late 1900s. Rodeo cowboys try such events as bull riding, calf roping and bronco riding. Bull Fighting - While many people think bull fighting is quite cruel, the sport is still popular in Spain and Mexico . During a bull fight, a matador taunts and torments an angry bull until the bull is killed. Animal Racing - Humans have trained dozens of different kinds of animals to race in dozens of different kinds of terrain. In the Middle East and Africa , humans race camels. In the Arctic, dogs are used to pull sleds in dog sled races . And humans race horses at racetracks all over the world. Animals in Sports - Fun Facts Elephant polo was first played at the beginning of the 20th century in India by wealthy British dudes.

An annual championship is now played every December in Nepal. Greyhound racing was started in the 1800s in the United States , after the dogs were brought over from Europe to help American farmers control the jackrabbit population. The 1900 Olympics in Paris included a pigeon shooting event. The birds were released in front of a participant and the winner was the competitor who shot down the most birds from the sky. The event turned out to be quite messy with dead or injured birds on the ground and blood and feathers all over the place. The event has since been dropped from the Olympics. Animals in Sports - Good or Bad? Some people think that using animals in sports is cruel, while others say animals enjoy the healthy competition as much as humans do. What do you think? Is using animals in sports cruel? Or is it a fun way for humans and animals to work together? Are some sports involving animals crueler than others? what you think about animals being used in sports. Related Stories

Question: What animal is used to participate in 'The Sport of Kings'?
Answer: Horses