Bull shot dead after dislocating leg at Gisborne Rodeo
Friday, 28 December 2018
A rodeo bull with a dislocated leg has been killed at an event in Gisborne.
Video footage shows the bull landing heavily on its rear leg, moments after leaping from behind a gate and throwing off a rodeo rider.
As it hobbles to its feet, the bull is clearly unwilling to place weight on its contorted leg.
The second animal death this season, the bull's injury is being described as a devastating accident by the NZ Rodeo Cowboys' Association.
An injured horse died at the Methven Rodeo in October, after getting tangled in its saddle.
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Activist group Direct Animal Action, which posted the footage online, said it was fed up with needless deaths.
'We've had enough of seeing animals dying for entertainment at rodeos. This situation needs urgent action now,' spokesperson Apollo Taito said in a statement.
Taito said it took 25 minutes after the bull's injury before gunshots were heard at Thursday's rodeo.
Green MP Gareth Hughes posted online saying the bull's death 'shows exactly why this barbaric form of entertainment needs to stop'.
Warning contains disturbing footage. Today’s painful bull death at the Gisborne rodeo shows exactly why this barbaric form of entertainment needs to stop. https://t.co/EWJoH05ebi
— Gareth Hughes (@GarethMP) December 27, 2018
NZ Rodeo Cowboys' Association president Lyal Cocks said an on-site vet determined the bull should be euthanised after its leg was dislocated.
He was waiting on a report into the decision to kill the bull, and was confident it would meet the standard set in the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
'There may be some issues about the correct timing and that, but I don't know, I'm waiting for the report.
'There are accusations it took too long and that sort of thing, but hey, they've got to go through a process.'
Cocks said it was uncommon for animals to be killed in the many rodeo events happening around the country at this time of year.
Though, as can happen in rural settings, accidents causing animal deaths do happen, he said.
'Even though we've had a couple of incidents, if you look over the years, and the number of animals used, the amount of times they're competing, that's very small percentage.
'We're devastated by it. We rely on good animals for the sport. When something like this happens its a real downer for the rodeo community.'