Quantcast
PHOTOS: Raging bulls go wild during Spain’s ‘Running of The Bulls’ festival – Metro US

PHOTOS: Raging bulls go wild during Spain’s ‘Running of The Bulls’ festival

running of the bulls, spain wild Participants run in front of Torrestrella’s bulls during the first bull-run of the San Fermin Festival, on July 7, 2014, in Pamplona, northern Spain.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

running of the bulls, spain, trample Steers and bulls from the Ranch of Torrestrella run above a runner entering the bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival, on July 7, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain. Credit: Getty Images

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

running of the bulls, spain, wild Revellers run with Torrestrella’s fighting bulls along the Curva de Estafeta during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival on July 7, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain.

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

running of the bulls Runners avoid a fighting calf inside Pamplona Bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival, on July 7, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain. Credit: Getty Images

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”

Runners avoid a fighting calf inside Pamplona Bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival, on July 7, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain. Credit: Getty Images “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

PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07:  Hundreds of runners run ahead of the bulls entering the bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival, on July 7, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain. The annual Fiesta de San Fermin, made famous by the 1926 novel of US writer Ernest Hemmingway 'The Sun Also Rises', involves the running of the bulls through the historic heart of Pamplona,  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images 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

Medical services carry a runner after he was charged by the Torrestrella's fighting bulls along the Calle Estafeta during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival on July 7, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain. The annual Fiesta de San Fermin, made famous by the 1926 novel of US writer Ernest Hemmingway 'The Sun Also Rises', involves the running of the bulls through the historic heart of Pamplona.  (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images 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.