The brave and the stupid descend upon the northern Spanish city of Pamplona for the controversial annual bull run. Shocking or amusing, the event makes for stirring photographs.
1. Pamplona, Spain. Running of the Bulls festival begins
Steers and bulls from the Ranch of Torrestrella enter the bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain.
The annual Fiesta de San Fermin, made famous by the 1926 novel of American writer Ernest Hemmingway “The Sun Also Rises”, involves the running of the bulls through the historic heart of Pamplona.
2. Course. Gauntlet lasts for less than a mile
The run sees people dashing with the 12 fighting bulls along a narrow 850-meter course from a holding pen to the city’s bull ring. The sprint lasts just over two minutes.
3. Food. Bulls end up on the restaurant plates later
The bulls are invariably killed by matadors in evening bull fights, and their meat is served up in Pamplona’s eateries.
4. Cruelty. Activist calls for such ‘traditions’ “to be relegated”
“Such ‘traditions’ should be relegated to the past as has been the case with many other cruel practices,” says Dirk Verdonk, Head of Programmes at World Animal Protection
5. News. Injuries in the first day of runs
Spain’s Red Cross says one person was gored after the first day of the nine-day festival. Spokesman Jose Aldaba said four people were taken to a city hospital for injuries sustained in the 8.a.m. run Monday.
6. Danger. Gorings – the order of the day
Dozens of people are injured each year in the “encierros,” as the runs are called in Spanish. Most get hurt in falls. Fifteen people have died from gorings since record-keeping began in 1924.