Bullfighting and cockfighting are allowed in Peru. The South American country’s highest court yesterday dismissed a lawsuit by animal rights activists to ban these events.
In the college of judges the necessary number of votes was missing to declare the bullfighting and cockfighting unconstitutional, as the court chairwoman Marianella Miranda announced. She herself was one of the three judges who had voted in favor of approving the lawsuit in the seven-member college.
Peru does have animal welfare laws. The bloody bullfighting and cockfighting are however exempted from this by a clause which defines the spectacle as „cultural events“. Bullfighting and cockfighting dating back to Spanish colonial times are legal in several Latin American countries.
Bullfighting is extremely popular in Peru. The country has more bullfighting arenas than soccer stadiums. Cockfighting was temporarily prohibited in Peru in the 19th century before it was allowed again.
