NAMIGNI ANIMAL SANCTUARY · COLOMBIA
The Home of Rescued Fighting Bulls
At our Reserva del Toro Bravo in the Colombian Andes, almost 30 rescued fighting bulls, cows, and calves have found a home for life, far from the bullring. As Colombia prepares to end bullfighting in 2027, we're making room for those still in need, while providing lifelong sanctuary for horses, donkeys, cows, sheep, goats, and more than 200 rescued animals of many species.
U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 99-2215540 · Tax-deductible donations for U.S. taxpayers
Dragón, a remarkable three-legged rescued Spanish fighting bull, at Namigni's Reserva del Toro Bravo.
NAMIGNI AT A GLANCE
Namigni Animal Sanctuary is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing lifelong care for more than 200 rescued animals in the Colombian Andes. Our flagship project, Reserva del Toro Bravo, is home to almost 30 rescued Spanish fighting bulls, cows, and calves—and, to our knowledge, is the only sanctuary in the world dedicated to protecting these animals. As Colombia's bullfighting ban takes effect on July 22, 2027, thousands of fighting cattle face an uncertain future, with no national plan to protect them.
Beyond the sanctuary, Namigni works with Animal Aid Abroad to provide free mobile veterinary clinics for working horses, mules, and donkeys in rural Colombia, while our Gladiator Rescue program offers a second chance to animals bred, trained, or exploited for fighting.
~30
rescued Spanish fighting bulls, cows and calves under specialized care
200+
rescued animals in lifelong care
2027
the year bullfighting ends in Colombia without any plan for the bulls and cows left behind
Free
monthly mobile clinics for working horses, mules, and donkeys
Where your support goes
Shogun, a young rescued fighting bull whose horn was broken during a private bullfighting event, now lives peacefully at Namigni's Reserva del Toro Bravo.
FLAGSHIP PROJECT · RESERVA DEL TORO BRAVO
What happens to the fighting bulls when bullfighting ends?
Colombia's bullfighting ban takes effect on July 22, 2027. But ending bullfighting doesn't answer a crucial question: what happens to the bulls, cows, and calves left behind?
In September 2026, Colombia's Ministry of Environment confirmed in writing that there is no national plan or allocated public funding to protect these animals.
The Reserva del Toro Bravo is our answer. A permanent sanctuary in the Colombian Andes, where rescued fighting bulls and their families can live together, roam freely, and grow old in peace. No bullrings. No slaughter. A home for life.
BEYOND THE RESERVA · OUR OTHER PROGRAMS
Protecting the animals humans breed to work, fight, and suffer.
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Working horses, mules, and donkeys
Across rural Colombia, horses, mules, and donkeys still carry heavy loads and perform demanding work every day. In partnership with Animal Aid Abroad, we provide free monthly mobile veterinary clinics, including deworming, hoof and dental care, and wound treatment. We also offer lifelong sanctuary to working animals who are discarded whenever they can no longer be used for work.
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Gladiator Rescue
Some animals are bred, trained, or used to fight. When the fighting ends, few places are willing or equipped to take them in. Gladiator Rescue gives them a second chance: fighting bulls, dogs rescued from fighting, powerful breeds often considered difficult to rehome, and roosters affected by cockfighting bans. Animals once valued for their ability to fight deserve a future where they never have to again.
MEET DRAGÓN
Three legs. A whole new life.
Dragón is a rescued Spanish fighting bull who lost his left hind leg after a devastating injury caused by other bulls. Despite extensive treatment and rehabilitation, amputation became necessary.
Today, Dragón walks independently on three legs, lives peacefully with his herd, and has built a life of his own at Namigni's Reserva del Toro Bravo.
Every fighting bull at the Reserva has a name, a personality, and a story. Dragón's reminds us why a second chance must also mean a home for life.
Dragón, the three-legged fighting bull.
OUR APPROACH
Naming cruelty isn't enough. We build the alternative.
We call it animal rights solutionism. Exposing cruelty, demanding change, and passing laws matter. But none of these, on their own, guarantee that an animal will be safe.
When systems exploit animals and leave them behind, we work to create real alternatives: sanctuary, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and lifelong protection.
We measure progress not only by what we oppose, but by the lives we actually protect.
Namigni was founded by Miguel Aparicio, who has dedicated nearly 30 years to animal protection in Europe and Colombia.
Fighting Bulls in Colombia: Frequently Asked Questions
When does bullfighting end in Colombia?
Colombia's Law 2385 of 2024 prohibits bullfighting beginning July 22, 2027, following a three-year transition period. The Constitutional Court has upheld the legislation.
What will happen to Colombia's fighting bulls after the ban?
Ending bullfighting doesn't automatically protect the animals bred for it.
In September 2026, Colombia's Ministry of Environment confirmed in writing that there was no national plan or allocated public funding to protect these animals.
Without viable alternatives, fighting bulls, cows, and calves may be sold for slaughter or left without appropriate care.
The Reserva del Toro Bravo is our response: a permanent sanctuary where rescued fighting cattle can live safely, as a herd, for the rest of their lives.
What is a Spanish fighting bull?
The Spanish fighting bull, known as the toro de lidia or toro bravo, comes from ancient Iberian cattle bloodlines selectively bred for bullfighting over centuries. Descendants of these animals were brought to Latin America, including Colombia, where their breeding traditions continue today.
Fighting bulls are remarkable for their strength, agility, and distinctive behavior. Their ancestry also connects them to the aurochs, the powerful wild ancestor of modern cattle, which became extinct in the 17th century.
But behind their imposing appearance, they are still cattle—intelligent, social animals with individual personalities, strong herd bonds, and the same fundamental needs for companionship, space, food, shelter, and care as any other cow or bull.
Can a fighting bull live peacefully in a sanctuary?
Yes. We see it every day.
At Namigni's Reserva del Toro Bravo, rescued fighting bulls, cows, and calves live in carefully managed herds, with room to move, familiar companions, and experienced caregivers.
These are powerful animals that require appropriate facilities, space, and handling. But a fighting bull doesn't need a bullring, and a life without fighting is entirely possible.
How can I help rescue fighting bulls in Colombia?
You can support the Reserva del Toro Bravo through a one-time donation or a monthly gift. Your contribution helps provide hay, feed, veterinary care, safe facilities, and lifelong protection for rescued fighting cattle and the other animals in our care.
Namigni Animal Sanctuary, Inc. is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-2215540). Eligible donations are tax-deductible under U.S. law.
They eat every day. Monthly gifts let us plan.
Hay, feed and vet care for the bulls and every other animal don't stop. A monthly gift is the steadiest help you can give. Cancel any time.