Rodeo fight gets a new contender as season of misery comes to a close

The end of a bloody New Zealand rodeo season this weekend has prompted a new contender to join the fight against rodeo. Global kickboxing and Mixed Martial Art superstar Mark Hunt, also known as the ‘Super Samoan’, has teamed up with animal advocacy organisation SAFE in calling for a rodeo ban.

SAFE says the recent rodeo season proved again that rodeos are cruel to animals. Two bulls died after being injured, Huntly rodeo was forced to close its doors after receiving animal welfare warnings from the Ministry for Primary Industries and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) admitted, upon releasing the new code of welfare, that they continue to have reservations about the performance of rodeos. The national rodeo finals will take place in Kihikihi in the Waikato this Saturday 21st February.

“As a fighter - I choose to get into the cage, so does my opponent. Animals in rodeos do not,” says Mr Hunt. "In my world the strong protect the weak. It's not right to inflict pain and scare animals for entertainment. Ban rodeos – they’re cruel. Don't be that guy.”

“It is absolutely appalling that animals have lost their lives in rodeo this year, for the sake of frivolous entertainment for an unthinking minority,” says Hans Kriek, executive director. “Not only do rodeo animals endure stress and fear, they also risk injury and death."

SAFE believes rodeos are in breach of New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act which states that animals should be "physically handled in a manner which minimises the likelihood of unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress". Rodeo events do the opposite by asserting dominance and using coercion, and cruel practices that force animals to 'perform'.

SAFE applauds Mr Hunt for speaking up for animals. With so many cruelty-free activities available, a ban on rodeo and its inherent abuse is well overdue.

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