Medonja Defeats Kobra, Bullfighting Debate Divides Dalmatia
While some celebrate the victory of a bull from Benkovac, ethnologists and activists warn that bullfights have nothing to do with Croatian tradition and demand their immediate ban.
While some celebrate the victory of a bull from Benkovac, ethnologists and activists warn that bullfights have nothing to do with Croatian tradition and demand their immediate ban.
In the sweltering Sunday that just passed, the bull Medonja from the Koalicija Benkovac team emerged victorious in a fight against Kobra, a bull from the Mate and Frizer team. News of Medonja's victory quickly spread across social media, where congratulations poured in, but it also divided public opinion over the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of bullfights across Dalmatia.
"They said there's no bull stronger than Kobra, congratulations on the win," read one comment on social media, vividly illustrating how part of the audience perceives such competitions. For them, it's a sporting achievement and a continuation of customs. For others, however, each new bullfight is another reason for concern and raises questions about the justification of forcing animals to fight for human entertainment.
Is this even tradition? The answer to that question was sought from renowned ethnologist Dr. Jadran Kale, curator at the Šibenik City Museum. His stance is clear and leaves no room for doubt.
"This is by no means tradition, nor can any parallels be drawn with the Spanish corrida. The corrida indeed has centuries of tradition and certain ethical norms that the toreador must adhere to, and even that is being questioned today," Kale told Jutarnji list.
The key difference, according to him, lies in the human element. While in the classic corrida, the toreador is an integral part of the ritual with special attire and rules, local bullfights lack this element. "Undoubtedly, when it comes to the corrida, it is a matter of tradition. This is evident from the toreador's attire, which is special, unlike our bullfights. They are not any kind of corrida; there is no toreador, no human as part of it, but only animals that are subjugated by their owners, which is unacceptable by today's standards," Kale emphasized.
The debate was further fueled by the traditional night corrida held in Dicmo near Split. The event was announced with 15 fights, a rich gastronomic and musical offering, and an arena under floodlights. While organizers and some visitors saw tradition, identity, and entertainment in it all, opponents pointed to the dark side of the event where animals become a means of entertainment.
Luka Oman from the Friends of Animals association did not mince words when describing his disgust with this practice. "Primitive, pathetic, shameful, cruel. Exploiting an animal in such a way for human entertainment. Enjoying violence between animals. Forcing animals to be aggressive. Simply horrific," Oman stated.
He also firmly dismissed the tradition argument, calling bullfights a novelty with no basis in Croatian heritage. "This is not Croatia's tradition; it's a novelty that should be banned," Oman said.
While some continue to speak of pride and custom, others are increasingly loudly asking whether something can be justified simply because it has been repeated long enough or attracts a large number of people. The Koalicija Benkovac team, whose bull Medonja appears at bullfights across Dalmatia and beyond, will certainly continue their activities, but they will also continue to be shadowed by this ever-intensifying debate.
