Bull fighting banned in India

NEW DELHI, May 7 (UPI) -- Bull fighting, a popular sport in parts of India, has been banned by the Indian Supreme Court.

The ruling effectively brings to an end Jallikattu, India's traditional bull chase in the southern states of Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Supreme Court determined that the bull chase "severely harmed" the animals and violated the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals Act.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals welcomed the ruling, with a PETA spokesperson remarking to the Press Trust of India, "this is a landmark victory for animals in India. Year after year, court guidelines or laws were violated during jallikattu and bull races, and countless bulls and people have suffered and even painfully die."

Organizers of the bull chase maintain that the sport is at least 2,000 years old and an essential aspect of Tamil culture.