Ch3: Enviromental Aspect

Enviromental Aspect

“ (…) toros que van fundiéndose con la naturaleza/ hasta ser piedras con musgo/ en los atardeceres.“ (“ bulls that melt with nature until they become mossy rocks in the dawn”) (Villacís). The breeding of fighting bulls helps to preserve the natural richness and environment within the “Distrito Metropolitano de Quito”. This is a phenomena that occurs thanks to many different factors that, taken together, create this positive effect. It can be agreed that out of those, there are three principal ones. First, it is crucial to take into account the many cattle farms  existing inside the perimeter of the “Distrito Metropolitano de Quito”. Another very important fact is that the fighting bull should be analyzed alone as a species as it has very unique features. Lastly, it is very important to study as well the number of other species that are preserved or enhance thanks to the fighting bull breeding activity

          “Paluguillo está localizada en Pifo a aproximadamente una hora de Quito, y son 100 hectáreas de puro campo, con apenas alambrado para separar los potreros, las instalaciones básicas y una casa del empleado” (“ Paluguillo is located in Pifo, aproximately one hour away from Quito, and there are 100 hectares of pure wilderness with  only fences to separate  the paddocks, the basic instalations and a house for the  employee”) (Patiño). This is one of the many examples of cattle farms that exist within the Distrito Metropolitano de Quito. There are approximately thirteen fighting bull cattle farms. Each of them has very specific features that makes it unique. (Espinosa 89-130). To illustrate that, we can take the example of “Ganadería Santa Coloma” which is owned by Cristóbal Roldán (Ecuador) and José Luis Buendía (Spain), it is located in Pifo (Ecuador) with an altitude of 3100 meters over the sea level, its divisa is blue and incarnate red and its brand is:

Bulls from this cattle farm have also a special marking sign on their ears. As  can be seen,  there are a lot of specific parameters that the breeding of these animals include, and this is because it is very unique as a species.

          Each living being on Earth has its purpose and reason to be, and that of the fighting bull is exclusively to be taken to a bullring and show its race and spirit. This fascinating creature obviously involves specific characteristics, features and needs. The first thing that we have to take into account is the habitat in which the bull can develop appropriately. These animals live in complete liberty in fields were they can run to develop the muscles needed for their fighting. Also, in Ecuador, as well as within the Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, these bulls are raced in huge extensions  at a high altitude with access to pure water and obligatorily avoiding pollution because of the sensibility they possess (Aulestia) . “Una ganadería pequeña debe tener por lo menos cien hectáreas de terreno” (“ A small cattle farm should have at least 100 hectares of field”) (Patiño).

As was previously stated, there is also a huge environmental benefit that the cattle activity produces. “El campo en donde habitan las reses bravas es prácticamente virgen” (“Fields in which fighting bulls live are practicaly virgin”) (Romero). It can be easily deduced that, being an environment full of untouched nature,  there are numerous species that are preserved and protected because of the breeding of fighting bulls. Typical species of plants and animals of the zone are: rabbits, wild horses, pumas, pines, condor birds, hale, deers, foxes, puma maques, llamas (goecuador.com). So, it can be concluded that the bullfighting activity also enhances the natural richness and helps to preserve the marvelous highland Ecuadorian countryside (goecuador.com). Then, it is important to take into account, as mentioned before, the fact that Ecuador is made up by a complex mixture between Europe and America which extends also to the nature we find in here. Within this context, it is interesting to analyze how did the fighting bull species enter this country in order to become a part of what we call “ecuadorian”.

          In conclusion, one thing leads to another, therefore, the huge number of cattle farms within the Distrito Metropolitano de Quito (approximately 13) in addition to the biological needs of the fighting bull as a species, which includes: huge countryside extensions and pure water and taking into account the huge variety of animals and plants that are preserved thanks to the enhancement of this habitat. It is very clear and obvious that bullfighting is an active help for the preservation of the marvelous natural richness in this part of the country. With this, one more reason is added to the fact that bullfights must be preserved in our city.