Portugal
Bullfighting
Bullfights remain a popular leisure activity in Portugal for both locals and tourists. These shows have two "protagonists": the Cavaleiros who fight the bull on horseback and aim to strike the animal with a maximum of four spears, and the Pega, a group of eight men who challenge the animal with no weapons.
Usually the bull is not killed in the arena, but far from the eyes of the public and by a professional butcher. Some bulls, if they fight in a way considered "extraordinary", are "forgiven" and after recovery are used for reproduction. In some villages the Government has given permission to kill animals directly in the ring. A festival similar to that of San Fermín is also celebrated in Portugal. In the Portuguese version, a group of people stars in a tug of war with a steer.
More information on the topic: http://turismo-responsable.com/s49
Zoos
After an investigation of ten Portuguese zoos conducted in 2011 by the Born Free Foundation, the results showed that licensed zoos were not fully compatible with EU regulations, while others were operating without a license. Of the ten zoos evaluated, six are members of a zoo association: Gaia Biological Park, Badoca Park, Lourosa Zoo, Monte Selvagem Animal Reserve, Lagos Zoo and the San Sebastián Chapel, Lisbon Zoological Gardens, San Sebastián Chapel and Lourosa Zoo.
Some of the main concerns are that these zoos do not make any significant contribution to the conservation of species and that most of the animals in these parks have a lower conservation priority. Of the threatened species, only 57% were part of a European captive breeding program. The information provided to visitors on conservation issues seemed inadequate, many of the zoos encouraged direct contact between wild animals and the public, and organized animal shows that offered no educational experience. Other concerns include the management of non-native species.
More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s29
Horse carriage rides
Romantic and nostalgic horse carriage rides are not so enjoyable for the animals, which are forced to work long hours, dragging heavy loads and often enduring extreme weather conditions.
Numerous animals spend all day exploited beyond their limits, while taking tourists through complicated terrain at bargain prices, often in the sun, with little shade, water and rest. These animals suffer from sunstrokes, wounds, beatings and injuries as a result of these "tourist experiences" and the economic benefit that their owners can gain from these activities is always above their animals´ welfare.
Horse carriages can have accidents with other vehicles, especially in cities with heavy traffic. The animals are usually trotting, which is too high a speed, as if it stops suddenly the carriage could crash into the animal. Moreover, the little rest that the animals get is usually in blocks located in the center of the city and, often, in inappropriate conditions.
More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s24
Swimming with dolphins
In some touristic locations in Portugal, especially the Algarve area, there are facilities that allow tourists to bathe with dolphins in captivity. Such activities have serious implications for animals and can be dangerous to people.
More information: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s20, www.sosdelfines.org
Dolphinariums
In this country you can also find centers which keep cetaceans (dolphins, killer whales or beluga whales) in captivity. Science has shown that these intelligent animals suffer greatly in the limiting conditions of dolphinariums and their stress levels and mortality rates are very high.
The training of these animals for circus shows where they perform totally unnatural behaviors, and which can harm them physically, is achieved through keeping the animals in a permanent state of hunger so that they act in exchange for a piece of dead fish.
Condemned by their facial structure, which resembles a human smile, these highly social animals, which would swim long distances and dive into great depths in the wild, are used to perform stunts in small concrete tanks. Many of the animals are taken from the wild.
For more information: http://sosdelfines.org/
Animal protection entities in Portugal
