Horrifying photos have emerged which show Paco Urena, a famous Spanish bullfighter, being gored in the groin by a large bull.
He received his horrific injuries while fighting the bull at the annual Semana Granda fair in Bilbao.
Images taken at the scene show the large bull striking its horn between Urena’s legs. The Spanish bullfighter also pulled a tormented expression.
Urena was also pictured smiling while showing off two bull’s ears he received as trophies, with bloodstains on his gold garments.
According to Mail Online, Semana Grande or Aste Nagusia is a festival of Basque culture. It takes place for 9 days every August.
More than 100,000 people go to the celebrations every year, with attractions including bullfighting, food fights, fireworks and strongman competitions.
Bullfighting is still a polarizing topic in the country as some believe it has to be preserved for future generations and view it as an integral part of the Spanish cultural identity. But many regard it as outdated and barbaric.
According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), at least 7,000 bulls are killed during official bullfights every year.
The animals are “pushed to extreme mental and physical exhaustion” before the matador ends their life, said the organization. The bodies were completely drained from prolonged harassment and blood loss.
Animal rights group One Voice also released findings in support of this. The group expressed grave concern about the psychological impact of bullfighting to children and teens, saying: “One can start at the age of 6 to attend these schools. At the age when one begins to read and write, one can learn at the same time the B-A-BA of bullfighting.
“They learn that torturing a living animal by planting spears and then pushing a blade into its body is acceptable and expected. We can witness the long and painful killing of these beings, whose sensibility is recognised, and on whom these cruelties are exerted… except here.”
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