Animals in Marbella Sanctuary

AIMS Against Bullfighting

The bull suffers

Aims is campaigning strongly against Bullfighting. We feel bullfighting is an absolute disgrace. It has no place in modern day society and is a devaluation of Spanish culture and belongs in the past. What many people may not know is this barbaric animal cruelty begins days before the animals enters the ring.

Sign the petition at Change.org here - Ban bullfighting in Marbella!

What does the bull endure prior to the fight day?

  • Contained in a dark box.

  • Wet newspapers shoved in his ears to mute sound

  • Vaseline rubbed into his eyes to blur them

  • Cotton and pepper stuffed into his nostrils to inhibit his breathing

  • Lungs punctured

  • Needles inserted into his genitals

  • Corrosive solution rubbed on his legs to unbalance walking but also to prevent him from lying down.

These actions are routinely done to disorientate the animal. Once he is finally let out of the box he vaguely sees a light at the end of a tunnel whereby he runs thinking he is finally free only to to be met by more torture followed by an agonising slow and painful death.

Horses at bull fights

Many people are also unaware of the impact on the horses used at bull fights - they have to endure an immense amount of stress including:

  • Sensing the bull suffering and smelling blood and death in close proximity

  • Being attacked by the panicked bull when he is struck in the neck by the picador

  • His vision is blinkered so he cannot see where the danger is coming from and cannot run away

  • Having to dodge the bulls horns with a very high risk of being catastrophically injured

A barbaric practice that should be banned

Aims' opinion is that this is a barbaric practice and should be banned. Our view of Spanish culture lies in art, literature, music and cuisine. Killing animals for entertainment is not culture it is torture. A new poll shows that most people in European Bullfighting Countries want bullfighting banned. The majority of people in European bullfighting countries are against the harmful tradition according to CAS International.

Our campaign

Aims continues to campaign against bullfighting here in Spain. On Thursday 7th August, concerned citizens from both the Spanish and international communities will gather in Orange Square (Plaza de los Naranjos), Marbella, for a peaceful protest against the continued support and staging of bullfights in the town.

The demonstration will take place outside Marbella Town Hall, after a request to protest outside the bullring was denied by local authorities—reportedly due to a counter-protest planned in support of bullfighting. In response, protesters have chosen to bring their message directly to the seat of local government.

This protest comes as a powerful petition calling for an end to bullfighting in Marbella has now gathered over 52,000 signatures—a figure that exceeds the number of votes cast in the last local election. The message is clear: this violent spectacle is not representative of the values held by the majority of local residents.

Protesters are urging the mayoress and local authorities to take a definitive stand:

“Not in our town. Not with our taxes.”


Despite efforts to frame bullfighting as tradition or culture, there is growing opposition within Spain itself, with many citizens speaking out against what they see as institutionalised animal cruelty.


Organisers invite all who oppose bullfighting to attend and stand in solidarity against this outdated and brutal practice.


Event Details:

Date: Thursday 7th August, 2025

Time: 20:00 – 22:00

Location: Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square), Marbella – outside the Town Hall


For press enquiries or more information, please contact:


Aims believes that there is no place in modern society for this barbaric practice; torture is not culture.

Contact

Get in touch with AIMS:

Address (admin only): El Parador I-B, La Zagaleta, 29679 Benahavis (Malaga)

NIF G70657044