One of Spain's major bullfighting events had to be canceled due to the bulls goring the first three matadors of the events in San Isidro. The three matadors, Jimenez Fortes, Antonio Nazare, and David Mora all sustained non-life-threatening injuries from their respective bulls. It was the first time in 35 years that the events in San Isidro have been canceled, exemplifying the spectacle of the injuries.
David Mora was knocked to the ground and then thrown in the air by a bull weighing over 1000 pounds. He somersaulted through the air, clearly in agony.
The second matador, Antonio Nazare, was dragged through the sand by his bull, injuring his knees. The third matador, Jimenez Fortes, was skewered in the right leg and pelvis by his bull's horns. Only David Mora remains in the hospital for treatment of his injuries; the latter two matadors were released.
Though one of Spain's larger tourist attractions, bullfighting has come under increasing scrutiny by animal rights groups for its explicit displays of killing animals for sport. The game itself has been losing its former popularity; in 2010, Catalonia was the second region in Spain to ban the sport altogether. Last year, the Spanish parliament granted 'tradition cultural heritage' status to bullfighting to ensure its durability and protect it from further bans.
Opponents of bullfighting have labeled the sport as torture and inhumane. The bull itself is left in a deprived state for two days prior to the event, where there are multiple methods used to enrage the animal, including rubbing Vaseline in its eyes to make it partially blind, feeding it laxatives, and pumping it full of various drugs to enrage/dull its senses.
Proponents of the sport defend it as an ancient art steeped in the culture of the country. Some historical records state that the practice goes back to when the Roman Empire controlled much of Europe.
Onlookers to the tragedy described it as "horrific, shocking, chilling."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
