**Animal rights activists in South Africa are taking legal action against the Zulu king to stop a bull from being killed as part of a ritual next month.**Animal Rights Africa says dozens of bare-handed people kill the animal in a cruel and undignified way.
The group is suing Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in the hope of halting the practice, known as Ukweshwama.
A royal spokesman said the killing was a highly symbolic way of thanking God for the first crops of the season.
But animal campaigners say the Ukweshwama ritual does nothing to strengthen nation-building, social cohesion or peace.
In a statement, Animal Rights Africa quoted an eyewitness as saying the bull was tortured for 40 minutes during a previous ceremony.
"Dozens [of people] trampled the bellowing, groaning bull, wrenched its head around by the horns to try to break its neck, pulled its tongue out, stuffed sand in its mouth and even tried to tie its penis in a knot.
“Gleaming with sweat, they raised their arms in triumph and sang when the bull finally succumbed.”
The group’s spokesperson, Michele Pickover, said the treatment of the bull was “unfathomable”.
“It physically pains us and is an affront to our dignity that an animal is made to suffer in such an overtly cruel and protracted way,” she said.
The group earlier said it had sent letters to senior politicians and leaders including King Goodwill Zwelithini but had received no reply.
The royals denied receiving any letters and insisted that the ceremony would go ahead as usual.