The RSPCA is calling for bull riding events to be banned in South Australia after a bucking bull snapped its leg while being ridden at an Adelaide rodeo.
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The organisation has launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday night.
Footage of the break was captured by a spectator at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre where Australia's No.1 professional bull rider Cody Heffernan was competing.
The vision shows the bull bucking frantically before its back leg snaps as it falls to the ground while rodeo clowns continue to run circles around it, pulling its tail.
The animal then hobbles out of the arena trying to put weight on the dangling limb. It is not known if the bull has been euthanised.
"This bull's injury was unnecessary and could have been avoided," RSPCA South Australia said in a statement on Sunday.
"We will gather a team of senior legal counsel to investigate what can be done to change laws to make bull riding and rodeos illegal across the state.
"Bull riding is clearly not family entertainment - you would never forgive yourself if your children had to witness such a distressing scene."
According to Heffernan, "seriously good bucking bulls" can be sold to the organisers of the weekend's event, Professional Bull Riders, for between $4000 and $8000.
RSPCA South Australia has also launched a petition calling for Adelaide Venue Management Corporation, which manages the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, to cease hosting rodeos or bull riding events.
"Staging such events at Adelaide's iconic entertainment facility is inhumane, unethical and outdated, making Adelaide appear backward when compared with contemporary attitudes towards animals and their welfare," a representative said.
The campaign attracted more than 440 signatures in a number of hours.
Fairfax Media has reached out to Professional Bull Riders Australia for comment.
with AAP
