An online petition collects 20,000 signatures in 24 hours to ban cow fights planned during a festival in Isère

These “fights of queens” were imported from Switzerland 30 years ago. The Justice Animaux Savoie association fears that this “unacceptable” practice will spread.

An online petition was launched at the beginning of the week by the Justice Animaux Savoie association to ban Hérens cow fights organized next weekend at the Sept Laux resort in Isère, reports Thursday May 30 France Bleu Isère .

As part of the Bell Festival, the event entitled “Les Reines de Belledonne” must take place on Sunday June 2 in Les Sept Laux, in Isère. Among the planned activities, “fights of queens”, THE “queens” being these cows of the Hérens breed used for “struggles”. The petition collected 20,000 signatures in 24 hours to ban the practice nationally.

This tradition, coming from Switzerland, arrived in France 30 years ago. It involves putting two cows face to face to fight: “It may be a Swiss tradition, but in France, it’s not even 30 years since there have been these ‘fights of queens'”, denounces Pauline di Nicolantonio of the Justice Animaux Savoie association.

“We want to ban this practice at the national level because we have the impression that it is spreading more and more, continues Pauline di Nicolantonio. Through some folklore, we want to develop these fights, but this is unacceptable. These are forms of competition, so it risks multiplying. We want to stop this.”

“If you are a breeder and you love your animals, you don’t make them fight.”

Pauline di Nicolantonio from the Justice Animaux Savoie association

at franceinfo

Around thirty breeders will be present in Belledonne on Sunday for the event, accompanied by around a hundred cows: “This has always existed. In Switzerland, in Italy… Under no circumstances do we force our animals to fight. Each breeder is very respectful. We love our animals above all. We can very well stop a fight if we think that we put them in danger. I have never seen a serious accident. I don’t like people talking about mistreatment.”reacts Florence, breeder.