Cruel Tradition Should Be Discontinued

The Andean Condor is a majestic bird of prey with a 2 meter wing span. Its population is on the declined like all other threatened species due to human urbanisation.

It is disheartening and sad to learn that they are captured annually for summer celebration in Peru.  The name of the festival is Yawar Fiesta which means Blood Festival. These birds with sharp beaks and claws are tied to the back of bulls and released into the arena packed with thousands of spectators. The bulls will be charging away in fright with the condor lashing out at them and pecking at their eyes.

This is a very cruel practice. We have 2 species of animals suffering for human entertainment. To add to the 'fun', drunken bullfighters are also in the arena to torture the bulls.

Such cruelty cannot be justify with the label 'tradition'. It is inhuman to inflict pain and agony on animals.

I don't give a damn to the historical meaning behind it. Those who 'invented' the practice are dead and gone but generations of condors and bulls are suffering since 1824!  It is said that the condor represents the indigenous people while the bull their Spanish conquerors.  So we have the condor riding the bull and having the 'upper hand'.  The condor though terrified out of its wits, is considered 'sacred' and will be released at the end of the festival (if they survival the ordeal!)

Those bulls will be dead meat by then.  This inhuman tradition and also that of the Spanish Bullfighting should be discontinued.  When there are TV coverage of bullfighting, my heart goes out to the poor bull. It is pierced again and again until its back is like a porcupine, with lances and spears sticking out all over it. Those spears have barbs. It has to suffered a prolong painful death. 

I recalled reading there is another cruel tradition where a live lamb/sheep is brought up to a tower and throw down in the name of  'tradition'.  It is horrifying to read about all these senseless practices. The frightening thing is there are so many blind followers of traditional who continue with them.