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Gallery|Arts and Culture

Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls

As San Fermin festival comes to an end in the Spanish city of Pamplona, the annual tradition faces an uncertain future.

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Pamplona, Spain, on a plateau surrounded by mountains, as described by Ernest Hemingway in his novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
By George Henton
Published On 20 Jul 201520 Jul 2015
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Pamplona, Spain – As this year’s San Fermin Festival comes to an end in the Spanish city of Pamplona, the famed “running of the bulls” faces an uncertain future.

Much like Spanish politics of late, the tradition is going through an era of upheaval. In Catalonia, bull fighting has been banned and there is pressure from animals rights groups to end the centuries-old tradition. 

Before this year’s festival, activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), held a protest in front of the bull ring, saying that “Pamplona’s streets are stained with bull’s blood”.

Further criticism has come from women’s rights groups as a result of numerous reports every year of sexual harassment and assaults during the week-long party. This year, a 19-year-old British woman was reportedly assaulted in a bathroom at a bar before being rescued by friends. 

Over eight days and nights, tens of thousands of locals and tourists take part in the globally famous event.

Each morning runners run with the bulls from their pens to the city’s bull fight arena. Injuries are common and this year was no different; with a number of people being gored. 

In the evening, the bull fights, in which six bulls face three fighters in six separate matches, take place. Over the week 48 fighting bulls are killed to rapturous applause from the goading crowds. 

Questions over the future of the run are raised every year but there is little sign that global interest in the event is dwindling, with thousands of daredevils from all over the world, braving the runs each morning and drinking the week away under the hot Spanish sun.

However, there is little doubt that things are changing across Spain and traditions, even those dating back from the 13th century, have shown themselves to be far from immune.

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Runners spread out before the final 'encierro' or bull run along Calle de la Estafeta during the San Fermin Festival, held every July [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Jandilla ranch fighting bulls charge through the streets, as runners try to get as close as possible without being gored in the chaotic environment [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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A fighting bull amid large crowds on the final run through the centre of the city. [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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A runner, injured during the run, is attended to by medics before being taken away to a local hospital. [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Four metre tall 'giants' dance during the festival to entertain crowds in in the Plaza Consistorial [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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A bull fighter walks out from the 'capilla' or chapel, before the eighth and final bullfight of the San Fermin festival [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Manual Escribano, a 31-year-old bull fighter from Sevilla, prepares his outfit before a bull fight [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Bull fighters walk into the arena to loud cheers from thousands of spectators [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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During the bull fight, the animal is slowly weakened and exhausted before the final execution. Six bulls and three fighters take part in each fight with the outcome all but assured [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Manual Escribano stares at a bull during a fight before moving in for the final kill. After stabbing the bull with a sword, fighters exhaust the bull before it eventually collapses [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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A dead bull is dragged from the arena. In many fights, the bull does not actually die in the arena and takes its last breaths in a back area before being finished by ranch staff [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Two children pose with a dead bull following its slaying in the arena. Few see what happens to the bull after the fight, and only those with limited passes to the private area have access [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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A man runs with a fake bull on his back known as a 'Toro de fuego', in the Plaza Consistorial on the final night [George Henton/Al Jazeera]
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Revellers hold candles and red scarves during 'Pobre de Mi', the final celebration before the closing of the San Fermin festival [George Henton/Al Jazeera]


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