The controversy regarding Spain's bullfights and festivals involving bulls is growing amongst the younger population. Animal rights activists and many foreigners strongly condemn the events however support remains within Spain. I witnessed 12 bull fights, 6 from horseback and 6 on foot in Pamplona's ring during the San Fermines. This is also one of the centre points of attention regarding this debate.
The opening ceremony begins with two hosts on horseback greeting the judges.
Each matador with their supporting team of two following behind and the picadores (on protected horses) are at the rear.
Each Matador with their supporting team who will fight two bulls during the event.
Early in the fight the Matadors must hide behind wooden walls when the bull gets to close. If the Matador were to fight the bull full of energy it would be a sure win for the bull.
Early a Matador stabs the bulls neck to weaken its main muscle and threat.
The Matador positions himself before charging at the bull to insert his Banderillas.
A Matador coming close but successfully inserting his Banderillas.
A Matador teasing a bull by jumping around in front of it narrowly missing the horns.
A Matador on fighting on foot with no support.
As the bull weakens a Matador gets close to perform more daring moves. The bull can still give a deadly blow at any moment.
A Matador dances with the bull and always narrowly misses its horns.
A Matador positions himself before the final move in the fight.
A successful job is a clean strike and will be rewarded with cheers from the crowd.
A Matador positions himself with the bull to finish the fight by stabbing the bull in the medulla causing instant death.
After the third bull is fought audience members begin to unwrap their packed sandwiches of spanish bread, olive oil and Jamon (sliced pork).
A Matador embraces cheers from the crowd celebrating a clean and quick fight while his supporters ensure the bull is dead.
Three horses are required to drag the bull out of the ring. The bull is then used in its entirety for food.
A Matador walks around the ring embracing the cheering crowd and accepts gifts thrown his way for a fight well done.
If the bulls death is prolonged due to poor moves the team gets large boos from the crowd, a poor rating from the judges and has to deal with a lot of shame.
A high rating from the judges results in the Matador being able to cut off the ears or tail of the bull while being paraded around the ring and into the streets.
I had the chance to experience 3 days of the famous San Fermines (Running of the Bulls) in Pamplona. Here after every run the bulls are fought in the evening, 6 each night. Bull fighting is a controversial tradition in Spain that receives widespread criticism from many animal welfare groups.
The opening parade sees the ring hosts greet the mayor of Pamplona.
The three matadores then walk in with their helpers. A total of 6 bulls will be fought each fighting two.
At the beginning the bull is full of energy and the fight would be a sure suicide. Therefore the helpers attract the bull to opposite sides of the ring to tire the bull before facing the matadores.
The opening bull fights are done on horseback.
After the bull is killed it is removed by horses. The bulls are removed and the ring reset in as little as 3 minutes.
A bullfight from horseback. The picadores puncture the neck of the bull which weakens its main attack.
A matadores from horseback getting into position before inserting a banderas.
The final move of the fight is a stab to the bulls medulla which kills the bull instantly. This is to reduce its suffering. Failed attempts at this stage will result in large boos from the crowd and a low score.
Mid fight, the only two in the ring are the bull and matadores.
After the third bull is killed everyone brings out their packed meal. This includes Spanish bread, jamon, and some olive oil. To drink sangria is brought in by the litre.
A matador celebrates a clean kill with little suffering of the bull. These are rewarded by cheers in the crowd and a high score from the judges.
A matador celebrates a clean kill while receiving gifts thrown into the ring by spectators.
Successfully inserting the banderas. These moves often come very close to collisions with the bull.
Near the end of the fight the bull grows very tired and the matadores can come close. Sudden explosions of energy are known to happen which can still be deadly to any human.
A poor fight is one where the bull suffers due to mistakes and inaccurate moves. Here a matador and his helpers walk away with shame and the crowd boos at their efforts.
The opening parade as the matadors and helpers greet the mayor who ironically is against bullfighting. Due to rules and tradition he must judge the fights every year.
Dancing with the bulls.
A matador takes his final aim before plunging at the bull with a meter long sword.
A successful job here is a clean stab with no visible bleeding. A missed stab can cause large amounts of blood to flow out of the bulls mouth and cause great suffering all resulting in low scores and boos from the crowd.
A matador celebrates by being paraded around the ring. A high score will allow the matador to cut of one or all of the bulls ears, and tail.