Animal abuser kills bulls and poses with their ears
Clara Sofie Kreutter becomes the first German female bullfighter to kill two bulls in Spain and poses with their ears. Fierce criticism and an online backlash follow.
As the first German female bullfighter, Clara Sofie Kreutter kills two bulls in Spain.
From her home country comes fierce criticism, and an online storm of outrage rages against the torera..
Clara Sofie Kreutter from Bad Berleburg in North Rhine-Westphalia entered the bullfighting arena in Spain as the first German female torera. At her debut in the small municipality of Ledana, Kreutter killed two defenceless bulls. In the arena, mounted riders first drive lances into the bull’s neck to damage its ligaments and tendons. It is then killed in front of a roaring crowd.
For Kreutter, the art is said to be at the centre of it all — becoming one with the horse as a rider in order to successfully (and safely) survive the bullfight as a torera.. Instead of coming into “close contact” with the bull on foot, he is fought with a lance from horseback, which the horses almost certainly do not appreciate either.
On the first attempt, the 31-year-old, who does not speak Spanish, fails to land a perfect lance thrust. The wounded animal subsequently dragged itself in agony around the arena before dying a torturous death. The thrust with the second bull «succeeds». As a prize, the fighter receives the ears of the slain bull.
Kreutter beams with joy, posing with a smile and both ears in her hands for victory photos.«I could never have dared to dream of this, I was absolutely overjoyed and so glad that everything worked out so well«. Now the German woman hopes for a career as a professional bullfighter.
The German torera's calling came about, as she herself admits, when she saw pictures of Ana Rita in a book — one of the most important figures in contemporary equestrian bullfighting in Portugal. Ana Rita inspired her to be like her: a courageous woman living her dream.
For most people, the deliberate killing of the animals is nothing other than animal cruelty.
The woman not only tormented the bull, but also put her horse in great danger. She obviously has neither morals nor decency. Bullfighting is a barbaric custom from the Middle Ages.
Peter Höffken of the animal welfare organisation Peta
Twitter temporarily suspended an account one month ago that had been sharing videos of bullfighter Morante de la Puebla. According to Twitter, bullfighting is a "sadistic pleasure“.
Most people likely feel similarly about this custom, but supporters view it as cultural heritage.Animal welfare advocates are reportedly examining, according to Bild newspaper, whether to press charges against Kreutter.
The bullfighting sector is devastated
The modern form of traditional bullfighting in Spain dates back to the 18th century — and continues to fuel debate over tradition and animal cruelty.
Spaniards have mixed feelings about bullfighting; some regard it as an art form, others as a form of cruelty. The latter believe that bullfighters should in fact be imprisoned for animal abuse. According to the German Animal Welfare Federation, only 14% of the Spanish population support bullfighting.
Each year, nearly 10,000 bulls die after being tormented in bullfighting arenas, and thousands more are harassed and mistreated in villages across Spain.
This year, due to the coronavirus, more than 200 bullfights were again cancelled in spring. The bullfighting sector, aware that the coronavirus will be a serious blow, has begun appealing to the government for an economic rescue of bullfighting. The bullfighting industry is apparently on the verge of bankruptcy and is grateful for any attention it can get.
