For most people, the concept of humans “having sex with” animals is abhorrent or taboo. As a result, being sexually interested in animals (zoophilia) or acting on that interest (bestiality) is seldom researched, studied, or openly discussed.
Bestiality occurs when a human engages in sexual acts with an animal. Abundant historical and anthropological evidence, however, suggests that bestiality and zoophilia have existed for millennia, with studies throughout the mid-1990’s estimating that 3-8% of the general population has had sexual contact with an animal at some point.
While recent revisions of the DSM and the ICD have moved away from the consideration of zoophilia as a form of sexual perversion or clinical disorder, judicial systems throughout the world have increasingly criminalized bestiality. This dichotomy presents practical implications for criminal justice, legal, medical, and mental health professionals.
This article aims to explore the prevalence, legal status, and cultural perspectives of bestiality in Africa, examining available statistics and addressing the complex interplay of societal norms, animal rights, and public health concerns.
Prevalence of Sex With Animals (SWA)
No reliable statistics exist on how many people engage in bestiality around the world and which animals they have sex with. However, a cross-sectional study conducted in Northeast Brazil during 2018 and 2019 provides some insights into the prevalence of Sex With Animals (SWA).
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The study, which involved 400 men attending Referral Centers for Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS (CR-STI/AIDS), found that the prevalence of SWA was 15.00%.
Key findings from this study include:
- Most men practiced SWA in adolescence.
- The last episode was more than 20 years ago.
- The animals most often involved were asinine and mules.
- The act typically involved vaginal penetration without a condom.
The SWA frequency was generally 1 to 3 times a week. Most sexual intercourse occurred with different animals at each episode, usually the men were alone with the animal, in an insertive position.
This study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), number 2.133.407, highlights the need for further research to better understand the prevalence and characteristics of SWA practices.
The sociodemographic variables associated with SWA are similar to literature or to medical evidence reported: men with low schooling, married, and who lived in rural areas, especially in childhood. These characteristics differ from those observed in individuals with SWA practice through studies that used virtual methodologies: adults, singles, with more than eight years of study, living in urban centers.
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Table 1: Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants in the Brazil Study
| Characteristic | SWA (n=60) | Non-SWA (n=340) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (Mean, SD) | 50.07 (13.65) | 35.41 (13.92) | < 0.0001 |
| Married or Living in Stable Union | 58.33% | 0.012 | |
| Catholic | 63.33% | 0.031 | |
| Heterosexual | 91.67% | 0.023 | |
| 0-7 Years of Study | 70% | < 0.0001 | |
| Lived in Rural Area During Childhood/Adolescence | 86.67% | < 0.0001 |
The multivariable logistic regression model indicated that men who were more likely to have sex with animals were older (OR = 1.061, 95% CI = 1.039 - 1.084; p < 0.0001), resided in a rural area (OR = 7.163, 95% CI = 3.174 - 16.164; p < 0.0001) and had sex with sex workers in the last year (OR = 2.861, 95% CI = 1.463 - 5.594; p = 0.002).
Defining Zoophilia with Andrea Beetz - ASI's Defining Human-Animal Studies 13
Legal Status of Bestiality
In many jurisdictions, all acts of bestiality are prohibited; others outlaw only the mistreatment of animals, without specific mention of sexual activity. While some laws are very specific, others employ vague terms such as "sodomy" or "bestiality", which lack legal precision and leave it unclear exactly which acts are covered.
In some parts of Colombia, bestiality is a rite of passage for a male to have sex with a donkey. In the United States, bestiality is legal in the District of Columbia as well as nine states-Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
States with anti-bestiality laws. Photograph: The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
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Canada is currently addressing the issues of bestiality. While the Canadian Criminal Code outlaws buggery, for a successful conviction, the government must show that the animal was penetrated or the person was penetrated by the animal.
In Brazil, there is no specific legislation that prohibits sexual acts between humans and animals. However, abusive situations that promote mistreatment, injuries or mutilations are considered environmental crimes and can be penalized with a minimum detention of 3 months which can reach 5 years - in the case of dogs and cats.
These diverse legal approaches highlight the varying perspectives on bestiality across different regions.
Cultural and Historical Perspectives
The historical perspective on zoophilia and bestiality varies greatly, from the prehistoric era, where depictions of bestiality appear in European rock art, to the Middle Ages, where bestiality was met with execution.
Instances of zoophilia and bestiality have been found in the Bible, but the earliest depictions of bestiality have been found in a cave painting from at least 8000 BC; in the Northern Italian Val Camonica a man is shown about to penetrate an animal. It is unknown if this practice was then more accepted, if the scene depicted was usual or unusual, or if it was symbolic or imaginary.
Several cultures built temples (Khajuraho, India) or other structures (Sagaholm, Sweden) with zoophilic carvings on the exterior. In the Church-oriented culture of the Middle Ages, zoophilic activity was met with execution, typically burning, and death to the animals involved either the same way or by hanging, as "both a violation of Biblical edicts and a degradation of man as a spiritual being rather than one that is purely animal and carnal".
Key Terminology
Three key terms commonly used in regards to the subject-zoophilia, bestiality, and zoosexuality-are often used somewhat interchangeably. Some researchers distinguish between zoophilia (as a persistent sexual interest in animals) and bestiality (as sexual acts with animals), because bestiality is often not driven by a sexual preference for animals.
Some zoophiles and researchers draw a distinction between zoophilia and bestiality, using the former to describe the desire to form sexual relationships with animals, and the latter to describe the sex acts alone. Colin J. Williams and Martin Weinberg studied self-defined zoophiles via the internet and reported them as understanding the term zoophilia to involve concern for the animal's welfare, pleasure, and consent, as distinct from the self-labelled zoophiles' concept of "bestialists", whom the zoophiles in their study defined as focused on their own gratification.
Animal Rights and Ethical Considerations
But animal rights activists say bestiality is abusive. When Ohio recently moved towards outlawing bestiality, Leighann Lassiter, an animal cruelty policy director at the Humane Society, said “the passage of animal sexual abuse legislation is a great victory for the animals of Ohio”.
The ethical considerations surrounding bestiality often revolve around the issue of consent and the potential for harm to animals. Animal rights advocates argue that animals cannot consent to sexual acts and that such acts inherently constitute abuse.
The taboo of zoophilia has led to stigmatized groups being accused of it, as with blood libel.
"Ancient Greek sodomising a goat", plate XVII from De Figuris Veneris by F. K. Forberg.
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