On the night of November 15, Medinaceli (Soria) was once again in the spotlight for those of us who defend animal rights and oppose cruel traditions. As the Toro Jubilo tried to flee in terror with its horns turned into two smoking torches, the cameras of the investigation team from AnimaNaturalis and CAS International meticulously documented every moment of its agony. The event was held under the shadow of intense legal and health controversy, and with the presence of two opposing demonstrations that required a major police operation to avoid clashes.
This year's celebration was marked by an exceptional condition. The Regional Government of Castilla y León had extended the ban on livestock fairs and markets until November 30 to prevent the spread of Contagious Nodular Dermatitis. However, the regional government made an explicit exception for the Toro Jubilo, imposing as a requirement that all bulls transported to the town come from the same farm and be returned without mixing with other animals. This special authorization was possible thanks to a recent ruling by the High Court of Justice of Castilla y León (TSJCyL), which in September revoked the interim measure that had prevented the event in 2024. The spokesman for the Regional Government, Carlos Fernández Carriedo, had expressed his "feeling of satisfaction" that the courts had ruled in favor of the autonomous administration's position.
"What we have witnessed tonight is living proof that cruelty is sheltered under the umbrella of tradition, even in the 21st century," stated Aïda Gascón, Director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain. The footage collected by our team, which will be analyzed and used as evidence in the ongoing legal battle, shows the animal visibly affected by terror and pain. "These are not spectacles; they are archaic public tortures that violate any principle of compassion and ethics," added Gascón.
The pre-event tension materialized into two authorized gatherings. On one hand, the Toro Jubilo de Medinaceli Association called its supporters to defend the event. On the other, the Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) gathered its members and followers in a protest demanding its definitive abolition. The Government Sub-Delegation in Soria coordinated a "sufficient and proportionate" operation by the Civil Guard, with support from the USECIC from Zaragoza, to keep both groups in separate locations and avoid contact.
PACMA has filed a request for recusal against the reporting judge designated in the appeal before the Supreme Court for the Toro Jubilo case. The animalist party argues that the judge has publicly expressed a "manifest enmity" towards the animal rights movement and a firm defense of bullfighting, which, in their view, compromises his objectivity.
Meanwhile, in Medinaceli, the mayor, Gregorio Miguel, is considering claiming damages for the suspension of the event last year, a measure that was overturned by the TSJCyL. This tug-of-war seems far from over. "Every image we capture, every testimony we collect, is another argument for the story we are building: the one that will prove that this barbarity, sooner or later, came to an end," declared Gascón.
The persistence of the Toro Jubilo thus stands as a symbol of a broader conflict between the preservation of certain traditions and the evolution of social sensitivity towards animal rights. The visual documentation obtained last night will not only serve as legal evidence but also as a historical record of a suffering that, year after year, is attempted to be normalized amidst flames and controversy. "Justice and ethics are on our side. It's a matter of time and persistence, and we will not relent in our efforts," concluded the director of AnimaNaturalis. The fight will continue, with the certainty that each new event represents a deep wound in the collective conscience and on the body of an innocent animal.
