End of an era: Spanish region bans bullfighting

Catalonia: It's a practice that has a limited time to run, at least as far as Barcelona is concerned.

The Parliament in the Catalan region has voted to ban bullfighting.

It's become the first major part of Spain to outlaw the battle between man and beast that's been going on for centuries. The debate had gotten heated at times, pitting animal rights advocates against supporters of traditional Spanish culture.

But in the end the vote was clear, 68 in favor, 55 against, with 9 abstentions. The outcome was greeted with cheers in the chamber. Some lawmakers even joined observers in getting to their feet for a standing ovation.

Supporters of the measure like animal activist Eric Gallego were celebrating, "We never thought this was going to turn into such a big issue, but it did in the end. We hope that other regions will see this as something achievable. We did it in Catalonia and we would never have imagined that was possible."

But there are those who think the vote had more to do with Cataluna's regional independence than it did concerns about animal welfare.

Luis Alcantara, a matador trainer says, "For us it is crystal clear. If instead of the world of Spanish bullfighting, this had been a Catalan pastime, then probably nothing would have happened. But because this is 'la fiesta nacional' (the national sport), people are just not interested."

The matador apprentice Alejandro de Benito seemed a bit resentful and said, "They have taken away the freedom to go and see a public show. Also as a professional I won't be able to do it in my homeland. That has always been my dream ever since I was young. I learned to love bullfights at Barcelona's Monumental arena. And now a bunch of politicians have taken away from me the chance to bullfight at my arena."

But animal rights activists were pleased.

The bullfighting ban will take effect in the north-eastern region of Spain in 2012.