This Photo Has So Much Meaning

This incredible photo marks the end of Matador Torero Álvaro Múnera’s career. He collapsed in remorse mid-fight when he realized he was having to prompt this otherwise gentle beast to fight. He went on to become an avid opponent of bullfights. Even grievously wounded by picadors, he did not attack this man.

Torrero Munera is quoted as saying of this moment: “And suddenly, I looked at the bull. He had this innocence that all animals have in their eyes, and he looked at me with this pleading. It was like a cry for justice, deep down inside of me. I describe it as being like a prayer – because if one confesses, it is hoped, that one is forgiven. I felt like the worst shit on earth.”

The conclusion of a Spanish bullfight is almost always the same. The matador plunges his or her sword between the bull’s shoulders puncturing the poor animals heart and killing it.

Many call bull fighting a tradition or tragedy, thousands of bulls die each year.

There is very little competition between a nimble sword wielding matador (spanish for “killer) and a confused, maimed, and psychologically tormented animal.

Surely in this day and age this tradition should end although the number of bull fights is dropping year by year there ae still thousands of Bulls killed in organised Bull fights or in rowdy bull running events such as Pamplona’s world-famous San Fermin festival.