Controversial tradition - Pamplona bull run: who is chasing whom?
At the third bull-running event of the traditional San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, at least two runners have been injured. Fewer than in previous runs, where five to six participants ended up in the hospital each time. Commentators on the state TV-channel RTVE expressed relief, as there were some dangerous scenes during the wild run with six bulls through the narrow streets.
A bull became entangled in the clothing of one of the runners with one of its long, sharp horns. The bull lifted the man into the air, but then continued on. The young man held his distorted face and rolled under a safety barrier to safety. He was treated by paramedics there. However, he apparently did not sustain any serious injuries.
Animal rights activists criticize the bullfighting
Animal rights activists lament that the bullfighting is in fact nothing more than a panicked flight through the crowds, which is animal cruelty and should be stopped immediately. The bulls die in the bullring after the run. The centuries-old festival in honor of the city saint San Fermin has attracted more and more visitors despite the criticism.
The traditional festival began on Saturday and ends on the following Sunday. Every day at 8 am, six bulls, each weighing around 600 kg, and several tame calves are chased through the narrow streets of the old town to the arena.
16 deaths in 100 years
Dozens of runners are injured every year during the bull-running trials of the predominantly young men over the more than 800 meter long stretch. Since 1924, there have been 16 deaths, the last one in 2009. In total, there are eight runs.
Apart from the bull-running, the city festival offers numerous cultural events also for families and children.
The city of Pamplona is renowned for hosting the annual San Fermin Festival, where a major attraction is the daily Bull chase through its historic streets, reminiscent of hunting. Despite the controversies surrounding bullfighting, many tourists flock to Pamplona each year to participate in this traditional event.
