In 1997, after much debate and pressure from animal protection organizations, the Farra do Boi was outlawed by the Supreme Court of Brazil. It was followed up with a campaign by WSPA, ACAPRA ( Catarinense Association for Protection of Animals) and APA (Animal Protection Association) in Florianopolis, the capital of Santa Catarina, which involved television interviews, government meetings, and theatrical performances to drive home the message that animal cruelty no longer held a place in Holy Week or at any other time of the year.

The local media were very supportive, filming events to prove cruelty. It was made very clear that the majority of Santa Catarina's population were embarrassed by the occurrence of the Farra in their state.

In 1998, a gradual decrease in the number of events was seen, signifying the beginning of the end for Farra do Boi. WSPA's representative in Brazil, Elizabeth Mac Gregor, stated, "Brazil is a country where traditions change very slowly, and laws are not complied with as expected. Bearing this in mind, we have to keep pressing the State to enforce the law, and promoting educational programs."

Not surprisingly, the participants of Farra do Boi have organized in order to ignore the law claiming that Farra do Boi is not cruel, that the animals are not tortured and it is part of their tradition. The Governor of the state of Santa Catarina refuses to repress the Festival. The police do not arrest anyone and the Farra do Boi, continues despite the ban.

A Heritage of Horror and Cruelty to Animals

Farra do Boi has been practiced in Santa Catarina as long as anyone remembers. Some say 200 years.While it is said to have originated in the Portuguese Azores and been transplanted to Brazil by the original settlers, WSPA's research has not revealed any such “tradition”.