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This is an archive article published on January 19, 2008

Quick pick Bull fights

Last week, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier ban on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. The sport is an Indian8212;and some say bloodier8212;version of the Spanish bull fights.

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India
Villages in Tamil Nadu organise Jallikattu on the eve of Mattu Pongal. Here, the participants have to seize a running bull8212;at times, more than one8212;released into the arena and cling on to it for 100 metres. In the meantime, he tries to snatch a towel pouch tied to the bull8217;s horns. The pouch contains the prize. Though bulls are rarely killed, activists calling for a ban say the event is horrific8212;50 people have been killed during Jallikattus in Tamil Nadu in the last decade.

Portugal
Here, a man on horseback fights the bull. The purpose is to stab three or four javelins on the bull8217;s back.Then a group of eight men without weapons challenges the bull. The bull is not killed in the ring but animal rights activists say that doesn8217;t mean it8217;s any less gruesome

Spain
Bullfighting is seen as a symbol of Spanish character. In this style, the matador uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes, both demonstrating his control over it and risking his life by getting especially close to it. The matador then stabs the bull between the shoulder blades and through the aorta or heart. Rarely, the bull is spared and allowed to leave the ring alive and return to the ranch where it came from. However, few bulls survive the trip back to the ranch.

US
Here, they play what8217;s called 8216;freestyle bullfighting8217;. It is a style of bullfighting developed in American rodeo, a sport that8217;s designed to test the skill and speed of cowboys. It8217;s a 70-second competition in which the bullfighter rodeo clown avoids the bull by dodging, jumping and using a barrel.

 

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