Cows, however, no one particularly asks, nor the six bulls that have to chase over an 800-meter distance, amidst shouts and jeers, a crowd mostly of drunken thrill-seekers. Animal rights activists also regularly come to Pamplona and try to get a ban on the use of bulls in this entertainment, and at the same time hold up a few placards to TV cameras condemning another famous Spanish pastime – bullfighting. This year, activists of the 'greens,' who completely disagree with the views of the female students from Pamplona, tried to distract the heated crowd from the bulls with their half-naked bodies. But, despite the large amount of alcohol consumed, the hot Spanish guys still preferred the run with the risk of being trampled, if not by an enraged beast, then by like-minded people.
Without casualties, by the way, no San Fermín festival is complete. On the day of the first run, which lasted only 2.5 minutes, four people aged 25 to 46 were hospitalized. Then the number of unlucky ones increased to seven. The injuries were not too serious – bruises and contusions. But sometimes an encounter with a bull's horns ends more tragically for unlucky runners. According to AP, since 1924, when the festival's casualties began to be counted – the festival itself dates back to the 16th century – 13 deaths have been recorded. The last tragedy occurred in 1995 – a bull gored to death a 25-year-old American tourist.
The injury statistics do not quite harmonize with the statement of the young female residents of Pamplona, who believe that 'such a small exercise after so much eating and drinking at the festival will not harm us.' And besides, they already have a chance to repeat the 'feats' on horns and under hooves. Organizers of the runs have recently begun to allow female participants. But the feminists are not satisfied with this – they call on the authorities of their city to 'take advanced positions in holding traditional festivals, which will thus acquire features of equality between men and women.'
The authorities of Pamplona have so far preferred not to react to this demand – the festival continues as usual. But it is not excluded that the voices of the female students will still be heard. At the same time, it is obvious that in the tourist-feminist fervor, the most natural approach from the point of view of nature will not be implemented: when bulls run after cows, and men after women.