Two Americans and a Briton were gored during the first run at the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona.
The origins of this traditional festival in Spain can be traced back to the 13th Century, beginning as a way to pay homage to the Navarran city’s patron saint, St Fermin. The running of the bulls was a way to transport the animals from the livestock enclosures to the bullfighting ring, and was immortalised by Ernest Hemmingway in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises.
(Image Courtesy: dailymail.co.uk)
Today, though, it’s a way of preserving the Spanish culture and serves as a massive tourist attraction for Spain. Which is just as well, only during this year’s festivities, three individuals were gored and severely injured along with approximately eight others who got injured as well.
(Image Courtesy: dailymail.co.uk)
Along with this, other reportings of injuries caused by San Fermn celebrations in Spain include the death of two men recently after being gored by bulls in Spanish festivals — one Saturday in the eastern town of Grao de Castellon and another June 24 in the southwestern town of Coria.
(Image Courtesy: losandes.com.ar)
This raises one fundamental question: must the Running of the Bulls be banned?
American photographer Jim Hollander, who has attended the event for 40 years, says, “If they outlaw bullfighting what will happen is, the fighting bull will become extinct. It will become a domesticated calf. It will be hamburger meat; and the race, the genus would actually disappear.”
Meanwhile, there are animal activists calling for an end to the bullfighting (you can read about them here).
Let us know your thoughts on Spain’s predicament, folks. Should the Running of the Bulls continue?
(Via: The Week)