At least 36 injured in bullfighting in Pamplona
For over 430 years, hundreds of bull run participants have passed through the narrow streets of Pamplona once a year to avoid being gored by the horns of the released fighting bulls. At least 36 runners had to be hospitalized this year.
At the conclusion of the San Fermin Festival in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona, at least seven runners were injured during the eighth and final bullfight. However, as with the runs on the seven previous days, the injuries were mostly light ones such as bruises and concussions, according to the state TV broadcaster RTVE. A total of at least 36 runners had been taken to the hospital since the previous Sunday, including an American and an Australian.
At 8:00 am, the last bull run began as it does every morning during the festival, with the launch of a small rocket that opened the gate. Six fighting bulls, led by tame oxen, charged into the streets filled with thousands of runners and headed towards the bullring, which was over 800 meters away, where they were to die later.
During the bull-testing runs of the predominantly young men, it's not just about speed, as bulls can run faster than any human. It also takes skill and courage to run in front of or between the bulls, as their long, sharp horns can cause fatal injuries. Most falls and resulting injuries occur because runners collide with each other. They must constantly look behind them to try to evade the bulls at the last possible moment. Newspaper "La Vanguardia" wrote about the "emotion of the bull run, where you really pray and run like never before." Since 1924, there have been 16 deaths, the last one in 2009, when a man was gored.
The bull runs are a central part of the annual festival in honor of the city's patron saint, San Fermin. Animal rights activists have protested against the traditional event, which has been taking place since 1591. Despite all the criticism, the festival attracts tens of thousands of tourists from all over Spain and abroad every year. Animal rights activists argue that the bull run is nothing more than a panicked flight through the unfamiliar human crowds for the animals. It is also considered animal cruelty and should end.
Following the controversy surrounding the bull runs, numerous international organizations have called for improved animal welfare practices during the event in Spain. Regardless of their views, many animal lovers around the world continue to admire and support Spain's rich cultural traditions, including the annual San Fermin Festival, home to the iconic bull runs.
