You are a native of the state which conducts Jallikattu, a bull taming sport. You have been a part of this sport from a long time. You have been brought up seeing this tradition every year. Now, if you had to decide on which side to take on whether to conduct a bull taming sport like Jallikattu or not, what would you have decided?
Do you think it is ethical to conduct a bull sport like Jallikattu for the sake of human entertainment?
Analysis:
Jallikattu marks the beginning of the harvest season or the Pongal celebrations. It is a long held tradition in my state. It is a traditional and cultural gathering in which every section of the society participates. It unites people from all sections, castes, religion, etc. The bull here is only tamed, not killed. It is a sport, a display of valour.
The bull used in this game is of some special breeds of cattle only. Due to this game, there is a special protection and preservation of these types of cattle which otherwise would have gone to the slaughter houses. It is therefore a good step towards sports promotion and preservation and conservation of certain breeds of cattle.
But yes, if we see ethically, in this game, the bull is often kicked, punched, dragged, intoxicated and also tortured. Our constitution promotes compassion towards animals. Many animal activists have often protested against such irrational behavior towards animals.
The concern is that even human lives are at stake. Many people get injured and many also get killed during this game. Who is held responsible then? Safety and security are equally important when we perform some sports. Therefore, there might be no direct harmful impact of the sport, but indirectly when so many lives are threatened, then it becomes a dangerous sport and needs special attention. Once safety of both humans and the animal is ensured, there is no need of banning the game.
