Children's bullfighting school defies critics and kills 24 calves in four days – World News

A bullfighting school that trains children to kill calves challenged critics by killing 24 of these animals in just four days.

Ricky Gervais joined the chorus of anger after the killing of four calves by youngsters as part of their matador training last month.

The comedian has described the corrida school of Colmenar Viejo, near Madrid in Spain, as "academy c ***".

But now, the school has doubled its disturbing practice.

Images captured by Animal Guardians activists and Tortura No Es Cultura (Torture is not a culture) show young bullfighters.

The bullring is almost empty, but some children are observers. A boy records the recording of the slaughter on his tablet.

Some of the youngest children are then offered carved ears in dying animals like a macabre trophy.

Marta Esteban of Animal Guardians said that the exact age of future matadors could not be determined, but that some young people start training at age 14.

She said, "They usually start killing animals from the age of 14 and usually stay in bullfighting schools until the age of 18, although some remain up to 21 years old." .

"This event violates the right of children and adolescents to live in a violence-free environment and it is imperative that something be done about it."

Calf fights, known in Spanish as becerradas, are considered "practical clbades" by bullfighting schools.

Calves are often used when inexperienced matadors or untrained guests enter the arena because they pose a less serious danger to humans.

Activists are now launching an international petition to try to ensure that calf fighting is banned in the country.

Carmen Ibarlucea, president of La Tortura No Es Cultura, said: "It is inconceivable that these acts of extreme violence against sentient beings can be considered as a form of entertainment.

"They are an atrocity and should be banned. We are asking people to sign our petition and write to the Colmenar Viejo City Council to call for the end of these shows. "

The petition can be signed at bastabecerradas.org/en