MADRID — Animal lovers are outraged following the announcement that the mother of a bull, who recently killed a matador, would be put to death — per tradition.
On July 9, professional bullfighter Victor Barrio, 29, was killed when a bull’s horn pierced his chest in front of spectators during a competition in Teruel, Spain.
The incident was broadcast live on television and the video has since gone viral on YouTube. Barrio’s death was confirmed on the website of Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring, where Barrio began as an apprentice bullfighter in 2010. He is the first Spanish bullfighter to die in a ring since the turn of the century.
Per tradition, whenever a matador is killed during a fight, the bull’s mother is to be killed to end the blood line. But that notion didn’t really sit well with animal lovers, who took to social media to start a campaign: #SalvemosALorenza (Save Lorenza).
As of Tuesday, the hashtag was trending in Spain.
Sadly, it looks as if Lorenza, the spotted cow, has already died. According to a local ABC affiliate, the cow was put to death a few days ago due to health issues relating to old age.