'Horror' in Spain: Live animals set on fire in centuries old festival

A cruel age-old tradition in which onlookers taunt a terrified bull whose horns have been sent on fire is still in vogue in Spain. 

The Joy of the Bull -- or Toro Jubilo festival -- is one of the ‘cultural’ highlights of the medieval village of Medinaceli, in the province of Soria, north east of Madrid.

Animal rights activists have been demanding the banning of the festival, which features live bulls being set on fire and sent to charge about the village streets for entertainment.

Disturbing images have emerged of the annual festival. There were some ugly scenes too among the crowds as animal rights activists clashed with police in a desperate bid to bring a halt to the perceived barbarity.

For around four centuries people flock to watch a young bull as it is dragged into a makeshift ring before its body is covered with mud to protect it from burns.

Then it is pinned to the floor, while men strap wooden stakes doused in flammable chemicals to its horns, and set it on fire. Then local men show their bravery by tormenting the animal.

A bullring is constructed in the main square and sand scattered on the floor before several bonfires are built in preparation for the arrival of the bull.

After nightfall, fires are lit using paraffin and then the three-year-old bull is dragged in on a rope held by men dressed in grey uniforms.

It is tied to a post by its horns and a plank of wood attached to a metal bar doused in a highly combustible mixture of turpentine and sulphur.

Fiercely hot sparks and embers drip from the burning torches onto the haggard animal.

The distressed bull is then released, thrashing around the ring to the cheers of the crowds.

Members of the public often jump into the ring and taunt the bull -- adding to its terror and confusion.

The bull, gasping and desperate, finally reaches a state of exhaustion after nearly 45 minutes of torment and is soon dragged out the ring by villagers to be butchered.

The men in the grey uniforms are awarded pieces of meat from the animal for their ‘bravery’.

Authorities in the Spanish regions of Leon and Castile have designated the festival a special cultural status.