Pig races in Vabres-l’Abbaye: a spectacle of suffering that must be stopped urgently
On Sunday 6 July, One Voice attended the 49th edition of the pig races in Vabres-l’Abbaye. While the images speak for themselves, the mayor of the commune is completely indifferent to the suffering of the piglets: “Every year, we receive letters from associations that are not even from here. And on social media, under the cover of anonymity, people allow themselves to say many things”. He says he is ’open to dialogue,’ yet he does not respond to the letters sent to him. Clearly, animal suffering is not a priority for the local authorities, who prefer to turn a blind eye to this cruel tradition rather than listen to calls to stop these practices.
Behind this supposedly “friendly” entertainment lie fear, clawing, screaming and panicked pigs. We demand an immediate end to this practice.
“Benevolent rules”? A cruel illusion
The presenter stresses that “pigs are sacred, precious… we take care of them… we don’t stick our fingers in their arses… we don’t eat their ears… we are gentle”. These details are as strange as they are disturbing. An implicit admission that reveals the latent violence behind this supposed benevolence.
This hypocritical set-up fools no one: these young animals are only ‘sacred’ during the race. But as soon as one of them crosses the finish line, it is brutally grabbed, often by the ears, lifted or dragged towards the lorry, clearly showing the promised respect to be a sham.
A scene of panic under the guise of “fun”
From the very first seconds of the race, thrown into an unfamiliar course, their first instinct is to flee. When they manage to do so, they are quickly caught and forcibly returned to the track. The crowd laughs, without seeing —or without wanting to see— the fear in their eyes.
Throughout the race, the piglets hesitate, back away, and collide with obstacles. Some refuse to move forward, others are pushed, patted, even spanked to make them obey. When one of them finishes the race, it is not received gently. It is taken to the lorry and returned to the farm where it will be fattened up before being taken to the slaughterhouse. Screams, agitation. Where are the sows, the exploited mothers from whom they were separated very soon after birth? This is not a game: it is a scene of panic accompanied by laughter and applause from the audience. Behind the so-called ‘tradition’ lies nothing but stress and brutality. These animals, who do not understand what is being imposed on them, are being used as entertainment.
A “game”? But at what cost?
The pigs struggle, injure themselves as they flee under the wire fence, and scream when they are handled. There is no respect for animals in this abuse disguised as entertainment.
The argument of tradition does not excuse the violence inflicted on sentient beings.
The races at Vabres-l’Abbaye are not a mere game, they are trauma camouflaged as folklore. One Voice calls for an immediate end to these races.
We call on the public to open their eyes, to refuse to participate in this spectacle of suffering, and to support our fight for the respect and protection of all animals.