Brutal death of bull in festival angers Colombians

Brutal death of bull in festival angers Colombians
Jan 5, 7:49 PM EST

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- The brutal killing of a bull in a popular festival in a town in northern Colombia has sparked indignation and calls for a public debate on traditions involving animal cruelty.

Animal rights activists and even some government officials are demanding legal action after a video appeared in Colombia showing dozens of people in Turbaco chasing the bull and killing it with machetes, rocks, knives and kicks. The killing took place during a "corraleja," or amateur bullfighting event held in some towns in the South American country.

Public Defender Jorge Otarola called the images "Dante-esque, painful and inhumane."

"The state's intervention is needed because, even though traditions should be respected, they must be updated to reduce the suffering of animals," he told The Associated Press.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_COLOMBIA_BULL_KILLING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-05-19-49-44