Bullfighting declared legal in Peru

Constitutional Court in Peru rejected a plea from animal rights campaigners to ban bull and cock fighting.

With a small margin of 4 votes against 3, Peru's top Court magistrates ruled against animal defenders who wanted to categorize the fights as cruelty to animals and punish its practice with up to 5 years of prison.

"The results did not get the 5 necessary votes to declare this legal norm (bull and cock fights) unconstitutional; therefore, the legal norm is constitutional," said Marianella Ledesma, President of the Constitutional Court after the debate ratifying bull and cockfights as legal.

More than 5000 people backed the animal rights petition submitted to the Constitutional Court in 2018.

Bull and cockfight supporters have participated in massive demonstrations during the latest's months standing for this popular activity brought by the Spaniards during the colonization.

Peru has about 540 bullfights per year, more than any other country in Latin America and more bullfighting arenas than football stadiums.

(Pic Credit: Pixabay)