Why Covid lockdown is the best possible news for some animals – Hayley Matthews

Bullfighting has been called off during the lockdown in Spain, while other animals have been reclaiming the land, writes Hayley Matthews
Bullfights have been called off because of the Covid-19 lockdown in Spain (Picture: AP Photo/EFE, Kote Rodrigo)Bullfights have been called off because of the Covid-19 lockdown in Spain (Picture: AP Photo/EFE, Kote Rodrigo)
Bullfights have been called off because of the Covid-19 lockdown in Spain (Picture: AP Photo/EFE, Kote Rodrigo)

I was watching a Facebook video of all the wild animals reclaiming their land as us humans hide away for a while and it really was a beautiful sight.

Elephants walking down a road in New Delhi brought it home for me. This is NOT just our world, it belongs to all beings on this planet.

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The video showed wildlife from all over the world roaming about the streets and as beautiful as it looks, I fear for these poor souls once we’re unleashed.

I hope we change our perspective and realise that we share this planet and more importantly, that we become a bit kinder to our animal neighbours.

Another welcome sight for me was the news of cancellations of over 50 bullfighting events in Spain, which equates to the saving of 300 bulls.

I’ve always found Spain’s bullfighting disgustingly barbaric and was delighted when, during the week, I was watching a news report where the reporter sat in the bullring with not a single person or bull in sight.

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I’d read that Spain’s bullfighting industry is already expected to be hit particularly hard by the coronavirus, which I have to admit I’m delighted about and, with events being cancelled for the foreseeable future, I hope it’s a sign of the times and a way forward towards a kinder more compassionate world.

Here’s hoping we’ve seen the last of Neanderthals throwing spears at bulls for fun. If I had my way we’d have bulls and elephants sharing the back garden with us.

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